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Complex, compound inversion/translocation polymorphism in an ape: Presumptive intermediate stage in the karyotypic evolution of the agile gibbon Hylobates agilis
Author(s) -
Van Tuinen Peter,
Mootnick Alan R.,
Kingswood Steven C.,
Hale David W.,
Kumamoto Arlene T.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-8644(199910)110:2<129::aid-ajpa2>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - biology , evolutionary biology , chromosomal translocation , genetics , chromosomal inversion , polymorphism (computer science) , agile software development , genotype , computer science , karyotype , chromosome , gene , software engineering
Karyotypic variation in five gibbon species of the subgenus Hylobates (2 n = 44) was assessed in 63 animals, 23 of them wild born. Acquisition of key specimens of Hylobates agilis (agile gibbon), whose karyotype had been problematic due to unresolved structural polymorphisms, led to disclosure of a compound inversion/translocation polymorphism. A polymorphic region of chromosome 8 harboring two pericentric inversions, one nested within the other, was in turn bissected by one breakpoint of a reciprocal translocation. In double‐inversion + translocation heterozygotes, the theoretical meiotic pairing configuration is a double inversion loop, with four arms of a translocation quadrivalent radiating from the loop. Electron‐microscopic analysis of synaptonemal complex configurations consistently revealed translocation quadrivalents but no inversion loops. Rather, nonhomologous pairing was evident in the inverted region, a condition that should preclude crossing over and the subsequent production of duplication‐deficiency gametes. This is corroborated by the existence of normal offspring of compound heterozygotes, indicating that fertility may not be reduced despite the topological complexity of this polymorphic system. The distribution of inversion and translocation morphs in these taxa suggests application of cytogenetics in identifying gibbon specimens and avoiding undesirable hybridization in captive breeding efforts. Am J Phys Anthropol 110:129–142, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.