Open AccessRestriction Endonuclease Staining Profiles in the C‐Heterochromatin of Cervidae
Author(s) -
Gripenberg Ulla,
Wessman Maija
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
hereditas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1601-5223
pISSN - 0018-0661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1993.00251.x
Subject(s) - biology , heterochromatin , autosome , cervus , constitutive heterochromatin , restriction enzyme , chromosome , x chromosome , genetics , odocoileus , zoology , w chromosome , centromere , evolutionary biology , karyotype , dna , gene
The four species of Cervidae ( Rangifer tarandus, Odocoileus uirginianus, Akes 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.