What specific method provided initial scientific evidence suggesting biochemical differences between geographically separated yellowtail snapper populations?
Answer
Electrophoretic techniques on muscle proteins
Long before modern, high-resolution genetic markers became standard, early scientific investigations attempted to delineate population structure using biochemical markers. Specifically, research involved performing analyses using electrophoretic techniques applied to muscle proteins extracted from the fish. The results of these analyses yielded measurable biochemical differences between fish groups separated by geography, offering the foundational support for the subsequent conclusion that distinct, isolated units existed rather than one single, freely mixing panmixia.
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