Abstract
The present study appears to indicate that a series of polyploidization of the original vertebrate genome took place while vertebrates were still aquatic forms. The polyphyletic evolution of terrestrial vertebrates is suggested. The lung fish revealed close kinship to present-day members of the order Caudata of the class Amphibia. The DNA value was 3,540 per cent that of mammals. The trout had the DNA value similar to that of mammals and also to that of members of the orders Crocodylia and Chelonia of the class Reptilia. The DNA value of the gold fish, on the other hand, was very similar to that of birds and of snakes and lizards as well. It was 50 per cent that of mammals. Flat fishes and the swordtail had the undistinguished diploid complement made of 48 acrocentrics and the lowest DNA value merely 20 per cent that of mammals. They were regarded as the retainers of the original vertebrate genome.
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In Northwood, this work was supported by the British Empire Cancer Campaign. In Duarte, this work was supported in part by grant CA-05138 from the National Cancer Institute, U.S. Public Health Service. Contribution No. 56-65, Department of Biology.
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Ohno, S., Atkin, N.B. Comparative DNA values and chromosome complements of eight species of fishes. Chromosoma 18, 455–466 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332549
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332549