Open AccessPhysical mapping of rDNA genes, (TTAGGG) n telomeric sequence and other karyological features in two earthworms of the family Lumbricidae Annelida: Oligochaeta)
Author(s) -
Vitturi Roberto,
Colomba Maria Stella,
Pirrone Anna,
Libertini Angelo
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
heredity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.441
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1365-2540
pISSN - 0018-067X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2540.2000.00709.x
Subject(s) - biology , lumbricidae , oligochaeta (plant) , nuclear dna , dna , ribosomal dna , chromosome , earthworm , genetics , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , zoology , phylogenetics , ecology , mitochondrial dna
A cytogenetical study was carried out on the chromosomes and nuclear DNA amounts of the terrestrial earthworms Octodrilus complanatus and Eisenia foetida (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae). Chromosomes were studied using Giemsa staining, banding methods and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with two repetitive DNA probes [rDNA and (TTAGGG) n ]. rDNA FISH and silver staining consistently identified one chromosome pair per spread in both species. The telomeric sequence (TTAGGG) n hybridized with termini of all the chromosomes in both earthworms. Flow cytometry DNA assays showed that O. complanatus and E. foetida had different nuclear DNA contents (2C value=1.72 and=1.40 pg, respectively) but very similar base composition in their genomes.