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Subdivision of the human Y chromosome

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Summary

The normal human Y chromosome was subdivided into 6 distinct bands by Q, C bandings and microdensitometric tracing. The best results were obtained from chromosomes not fully condensed. The results reveal that at late prophase the Y can be subdivided in 1 single unstained band in short arm 5 bands in the long arm. These 5 bands from centromere to telomere are: a pericentric C+ band Yq1; unstained band Yq2; C+ band Yq3; lightly stained band Yq4; and a C+ band Yq5. These observational results were substantiated by densitometric tracings. The Yq3 and Yq5 bands can sometimes be subdivided further into a dark and a light C+ zone. The Q band analysis indicates that the distal heterochromatin can be subdivided in two regions with the Yq4 band appearing as a lightly stained zone. We believe the terminal heterochromatin of the prevalent human Y represents a single tandem duplication.

Zusammenfassung

Am menschlichen Y-Chromosom können mittels der Q-und C-Methoden 6 einzelne Abschnitte nachgewiesen werden, besonders wenn das Chromosom nicht stark kondensiert ist. Nach unseren Befunden bleibt der kurze Arm ungefärbt, während der lange Arm in 5 Abschnitte (Bänder) unterteilt werden kann: ein perizentrisches C-positives Band (Yq1), ein C-negatives Band Yq2, zwei C-positive Bänder Yq3 und Yq5, die gelegentlich in eine hellere und eine dunklere Zone unterteilt werden können und zwischen denen ein helles Band, Yq4, zu erkennen ist. Bei der Q-Methode bildet Uq4 den Spalt zwischen den beiden hell fluorescierenden Abschnitten. Die Befunde werden mikrodensitometrisch belegt. Das terminale Heterochromatin könnte durch eine Tandem-Duplikation entstanden sein.

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Supported in part by Research Grants VC-21 from American Cancer Society and GB-13661 from National Science Foundation.

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Jalal, S.M., Pfeiffer, R.A., Pathak, S. et al. Subdivision of the human Y chromosome. Hum Genet 24, 59–65 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00281109

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