Sequential Q‐ and C‐band staining of pig chromosomes, and some comments on C‐band polymorphism and C‐band technique

Sequential Q‐ and C‐band staining of chromosomes of domestic pig ( Sus scrofa domestica ) is presented, probably for the first time, and the C‐band pattern is described. Large C‐bands were usually found on pair Nos. 1, 13, 15, 16, and 18, but in some animals large C‐bands were found on other pairs, too. The C‐band method was tested for the ability to reproduce polymorphism. The method seems to be unsuitable for identification of C‐band polymorphism of homologous chromosomes , if the number of pre‐identified cells from each animal is limited. The reason for this seems to be technical errors. C‐band polymorphism of identical pairs indifferent animals was found for pair Nos. 2, 11, 14, and 17, in a limited material. In some animals, however, some pairs showed large C‐bands in some cells, but medium or small C‐bands in other cells from the same animal. This phenomenon seems to be caused by technical errors. As the C‐band patterns of the different pairs of the pig chromosomes are very similar, it seems impossible to use the C‐band method for chromosome identification, except for pair No. 16, and for the Y chromosome. This method seems more suited for qualitative than for quantitative identification of the chromatin in the centromere region.