Restriction endonuclease staining profiles in the C-heterochromatin of Cervidae. II: The sex chromosomes

The four species of Cervidae (Rangifer tarandus, Odocoileus virginianus, Alces alces , and Cervus dama ) show striking differences in size, morphology, banding pattern, and amount of heterochromatin in their sex chromosomes studied here. Cervus dama is characterized by an acrocentric X chromosome, r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hereditas 1993, Vol.118 (3), p.251-257
Main Authors: GRIPENBERG, U, WESSMAN, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cervidae
Cytogenetics
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Vertebrata
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The four species of Cervidae (Rangifer tarandus, Odocoileus virginianus, Alces alces , and Cervus dama ) show striking differences in size, morphology, banding pattern, and amount of heterochromatin in their sex chromosomes studied here. Cervus dama is characterized by an acrocentric X chromosome, representing the original X in Cervidae. Odocoileus virginianus and Alces alces have submetacentric and otherwise structurally different X chromosomes. In Rangifer tarandus the X and the Y are spectacularly large sex chromosomes, exceptionally rich in heterochromatin. Banding induced by restriction endonucleases has revealed a new class of C-heterochromatin in the sex chromosomes of Rangifer tarandus not present in any other sex chromosomes or autosomes investigated in this taxon. Meiotic divisions in Rangifer tarandus and Alces alces furthermore elucidate ancient evolutionary changes in the sex chromosomes.
ISSN:0018-0661
1601-5223
DOI:10.1111/j.1601-5223.1993.00251.x