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Distribution of constitutive heterochromatin in mammalian chromosomes

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Abstract

Using a special staining technique, a survey of the chromosomes of many mammalian species showed that constitutive heterochromatin is present in all cases and that the heterochromatin pattern appears to be specific and consistent or each chromosome and each taxon. Usually heavy heterochromatin is found in the centromeric areas, but terminal heterochromatin is not uncommon. Occasionally interstitial heterochromatin bands occur. In some species, such as the Syrian hamster and Peromyscus, many chromosome arms are completely heterochromatic.

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Supported in part by Research Grant GB-13661 from the National Science Foundation.

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Hsu, T.C., Arrighi, F.E. Distribution of constitutive heterochromatin in mammalian chromosomes. Chromosoma 34, 243–253 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286150

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286150

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