The cheetah is depauperate in genetic variation

This landmark study used protein electrophoresis across dozens of allozyme loci to show that the cheetah carries almost no detectable genetic variation, a pattern unprecedented among mammals at the time. The authors interpreted the monomorphism as evidence of one or more severe historical population bottlenecks that purged diversity from the species. They connected this genetic uniformity to reproductive problems documented in captive cheetahs, including high infant mortality and unusually poor semen quality, and to the acceptance of reciprocal skin grafts between unrelated individuals. The work reframed cheetah conservation around genetics as well as habitat, launched decades of follow-up research on felid molecular ecology, and remains a foundational reference for understanding how demographic history shapes reproductive fitness in endangered cats.