The Laboratory for Primate Morphology and Genetics (LPMG)

This unit includes what was formerly called the CPRC Museum, and its fundamental mission is research on the genetic basis of spontaneously occurring natural phenotypic variation. The facility is located on the fifth floor of the main building of the Medical Sciences Campus and it houses primate skeletal collections including the unique collection of complete specimens (crania and postcrania) of 2,250 Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaques). The majority of these derive from the Cayo Santiago colony and are of known identity, age, sex, matriline, and parity. The collections also include 270 specimens of Erythrocebus patas (patas monkeys) and smaller numbers of other taxa (Tupaia sp. 4, Aotus trivirgatus 12, Saimiri sciureus 99, Callicebus sp. 1, Cebus albifrons 6, Cebus capucinus 2, Cebus apella 30, Macaca arctoides 30, Macaca fascicularis 2, Macaca nemestrina 42).

The rhesus macaque collection is ideally suited for studies of morphological integration, genetics of skeletal morphology, postnatal skeletal development and age-related changes, and skeletal pathology. A portion of the specimens in the collection have associated necropsy and histopathology reports. The facility also houses some soft tissue specimens.

Access to the collections of the LPMG is for interested scientists and students at the University of Puerto Rico and other institutions, nationally and internationally. Persons who wish to conduct research at the facility are required to submit a proposal and obtain approval prior to beginning their project. Effective August 1, 2003, fees are not charged except for researchers with specifically dedicated funds for this purpose.

This web site is supported by the 5P40RR003640 grant from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and by the Research Centers in Minority Institutions Grant (G12 RR03051) from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.