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Cytological identification of two X-chromosome types in the wood lemming (Myopus schisticolor)

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Abstract

In the wood lemming (Myopus schisticolor) three genetic types of sex chromosome constitution in females are postulated: XX, X*X and X*Y (X*=X with a mutation inactivating the male determining effect of the Y chromosome). Males are all XY. It is shown in the present paper that the two types of X chromosomes, X and X*, exhibit differences in the G-band patterns of their short arms. In addition, it was demonstrated in unbanded chromosomes that the short arm in X* is shorter than in X. The origin of these differences is still obscure; but they allow to identify and to distinguish the individual types of sex chromosome constitution, as of XX versus X*X females and of X*Y females versus XY males, on the basis of G-banded chromosome preparations from somatic cells.

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Herbst, E.W., Fredga, K., Frank, F. et al. Cytological identification of two X-chromosome types in the wood lemming (Myopus schisticolor). Chromosoma 69, 185–191 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329917

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00329917

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