Preface

issue focuses on molecular and evolutionary cytogenetics of domestic animals to create a current compendium of overview papers and original research articles in this area. These communications bring an up-to-date picture of research directed towards understanding animal chromosomes in relation to the genome and, ultimately, the phenotype of domestic animal species. With this special-theme issue we would like to take the opportunity to modestly recognize the outstanding scientific careers of one of the prominent founders of Veterinary Cytogenetics, Professor Parvathi K. Basrur, who has developed techniques and described novel and fundamental observations that opened the way for the exploration of the biology of genes and chromosomes of domestic animals and lower organisms, starting during the 1950s and continuing to this day (see laudatio in this issue). This themed issue begins with a review paper presented by Adega et al., summarizing the state of our knowledge concerning the role of satellite DNA (satDNA) in the karyotype evolution of domestic animals, and noting the clinical implication of satDNA polymorphism in veterinary medicine. An extensive review article on the use of RH techniques for developing the RH maps of domestic animals is presented by Faraut et al., while Rubes et al. offer a comprehensive review of the use of the FISH technique in molecular cytogenetic studies of domestic animals. An up-to-date review on the karyotye evolution of domestic bovids with the development of a high-resolution RBA-banded karyotype of the ‘bovidae ancestral karyotype’ (BAK) is presented by Iannuzzi et al. Two extensive review papers take into consideration the analysis of the most advanced cytogenetic maps in both sheep (Goldammer et al.) and goat (Schibler et al.) species, folOver its 50-year history, domestic animal cytogenetics, or more recently modern Veterinary Cytogenetics as a discipline, has made key contributions to our understanding of various genetic diseases and variations in domestic animal productivity. The study of phylogenetic relationships among animal taxa has been explored using similarities and diversities of chromosome landmarks. Both classical and molecular cytogenetics have proven to be useful tools in evolutionary studies of animal populations. The emergence of the importance of tertiary chromosome structures in inheritance has provided the impetus for increased momentum in the study of animal chromosomes by coupling with genomic investigations to provide a detailed and mechanistic picture of chromosomes and genes in the main domesticated animal species. Molecular probes containing entire chromosome libraries (painting probes) or specific DNA sequences by using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in metaphase and interphase cells (e.g. somatic cells, germ cells and embryos) and extended chromosome fibers (fiber-FISH) as well as application of comparative radiation hybrid (RH) mapping, have opened a new era for domestic animal cytogenetics and noticeably deepened our comprehension of animal genomes. Indeed, not only detailed conventional cytogenetic maps, but also RH maps have been constructed and used in clinical and evolutionary studies in domestic animals. Although the number is still comparatively small, there are some remarkable examples of the contribution of mammalian molecular genetics in domestic animal studies. It is anticipated that there will be a significant increase in investigations using sophisticated molecular approaches to identify, describe and elucidate the inheritance of aberrant animal phenotypes. This special-theme