The chromosomes of five gaur (Bos gaurus hubbacki) domestic cattle (B indicus cross B taurus) hybrids (three females, two males) were studied using the leucocyte culture method and centromeric (C) banding technique. All the hybrids had a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 58, made up of two submetacentric autosomes (different in size) and 54 acrocentric autosomes, most of which could be arranged in pairs in descending order of size. The sex (X) chromosomes in females were a pair of submetacentric chromosomes smaller than the submetacentric autosomes. The Y chromosome in males was a small submetacentric chromosome. The C banding patterns were useful in identifying the X and Y chromosomes and the inherited submetacentric autosomes from the gaur sire. Phenotypically, the hybrids resembled normal B indicus cross B taurus calves except for the presence of a distinct hump-like dorsal ridge containing the spinous processes of the third to 11th thoracic vertebrae, upright 'deer-like' ears and long lean legs. The potential of these hybrids as important genetic resources for meat production is stressed.
A cytogenetic survey 01 124 children in lour special schools for the mentally handicapped was carried out to determine the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities to the aetiology of mental retardation in these children. All the children were karyotyped employing the G·banding technique 01 43 (34.7%) with an abnormal chromosome complement, 40 had Down's Syndrome, and 3 had other chromosomal abnormalities, namely a translocation 1;17, a mosaic male/trisomy 18 and a Klinefelter's syndrome. Polymorphic variants involving chromosomes 1, 9, and 14 were also observed. Two other children showed variants of the Y chromosome (one a small Y and the other a metacentric Y). The possible contribution by these abnormal variants to mental retardation is discussed. Details of the abnormal cytogenetic findings are reported.
The common chromosome abnormalities that are encountered in the various types of leukemia are discussed here. Chromosome abnormalities in leukemia are non-random and certain chromosomal changes are now becoming recognised as being rather specific for certain leukemia types.
Supernumerary chromosomes have been examined in 352 black rats, covering three geographic variants, by use of conventional and C-band staining techniques. Metacentric supernumerary chromosomes, one to three in number, were found in Malayan black rats (Rattus rattus diardii), with 2n=42, in Indian black rats (R. rattus rufescens), with 2n=38, and in Ceylonese black rats (R. rattus kandianus), with 2n=40. The supernumeraries had similar morphology and stained heavily along their entire length by C-band staining. These findings suggested that the supernumeraries had originally developed in the Asian-type black rats and then were sequentially transmitted to the Ceylonese and Oceanian-type black rats, probably in southwestern Asia. A subtelocentric supernumerary chromosome found in one Japanese black rat seemed to have developed independently from the above metacentric supernumeraries.
The karyotypes have been determined of 16 of the 32 species of the genus Varanus, including animals from Africa, Israel, Malaya and Australia. A constant chromosome number of 2n = 40 was observed. The karyotype is divided into eight pairs of large chromosomes and 12 paris of microchromosomes. A series of chromosomal rearrangements have become established in both size groups of the karyotype and are restricted to centromers shifts, probably caused by pericentric inversion. Species could be placed in one of six distinct karyotype groups which are differentiated by these rearrangements and whose grouping does not always correspond with the current taxonomy. An unusual sex chromosome system of the ZZ/ZW type was present in a number of the species examined. The evolutionary significance of these chromosomal rearrangements, their origin and their mode of establishment are discussed and related to the current taxonomic groupings. The most likely phylogenetic model based on chromosome morphology, fossil evidence and the current distribution of the genus Varanus is presented.
All subspecies of black rats (Rattus rattus) used in the present study are characterized by having large and clear C-bands at the centromeric region. The appearance of the bands, however, is different in the subspecies. Chromosome pair No. 1 in Asian type black rats (2n=42), which are characterized by an acrocentric and subtelocentric polymorphism, showed C-band polymorphism. In Phillipine rats (R. rattus mindanensis) the pair was subtelocentric with C-bands, but in Malayan black rats (R. rattus diardii) it was usually acrocentric with C-bands. In Hong-Kong (R. rattus flavipectus) and Japanese black rats (R. rattus tanezumi) it was polymorphic with respect to the presence of acrocentrics with C-bands or subtelocentrics without C-bands. The other chromosomes pairs showed clear C-bands, but in Hong-Kong black rats the pairs No. 2 and 5 were polymorphic with and without C-bands. In Japanese black rats, 6 chromosome pairs (No. 3, 4, 7, 9, 11 and 13) were polymorphic in regard to presence and absence of C-bands, but the other 5 chromosome pairs (No. 2, 5, 6, 8 and 10) showed always absence of C-bands. Only pair No. 12 usually showed C-bands. C-bands in small metacentric pairs (No. 14 to 20) in Asian type black rats generally large in size, but those in the Oceanian (2n=38) and Ceylon type black rats (2n=40) were small. In the hybrids between Asian and Oceanian type rats, heteromorphic C-bands, one large and the other small, were observed. Based on the consideration of karyotype evolution in the black rats, the C-band is suggested to have a tendency toward the diminution as far as the related species are concerned.