Abstract
Karyotypes and serum transferrin patterns were examined in Asian and Oceanian black rats (R. rattus). Japanese R. r. tanezumi and Malayan R. r. diardii had 2n=42, but Australian and New Guinea R. r. rattus showed 2n=38 chromosomes. F1 hybrids between Japanese and Australian rats and Malayan and New Guinea rats had 2n=40 chromosomes which consists of the two genomes of both parents. Although various matings between the F1 hybrids were made, only one F2 male rat with 2n=39 chromosomes was obtained. The F1 hybrids seem to be semisterile. Parental transferrin phenotypes were TfR in Japanese rats and TfCD in Oceanian rats. F1 hybrids examined showed TfRD in both male and female and one F2 hybrid had TfR type transferrin. Based on the above investigations, it is suggested that Asian and Oceanian black rats are geographically isolated and evolved different chromosomal and serum transferrin characteristics, but the sexual isolation of the two groups is incomplete at the present time.
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Contribution No. 826 from the National Institute of Genetics, Japan. Supported by a grant-in-aid from the Ministry of Education of Japan (Scientific Expedition in 1968, No. 8801 in 1969 and No. 9001 in 1970).
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Yosida, T.H., Kato, H., Tsuchiya, K. et al. Karyotypes and serum transferrin patterns of hybrids between Asian and Oceanian black rats, Rattus rattus . Chromosoma 34, 40–50 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285515
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285515