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Longitudinal differentiation of chromosomes of Asellus aquaticus (Crust. Isop.) by in situ nick translation using restriction enzymes and DNase I

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Abstract

Asellus aquaticus is an isopod crustacean whose chromosomes cannot be differentiated by G- or R-banding techniques. In this work, we have obtained a longitudinal differentiation of these chromosomes by in situ nick translation using restriction enzymes (HaeIII, DraI and BamHI) and DNase I digestions. The four nucleases, with different efficiencies, have produced similar labelling patterns. Staining with DAPI, Giemsa and chromomycin A3 reveals that the DNA of the nick-translated regions is generally more resistant to extraction from the chromosome. The results obtained on the heteromorphic sex chromosome pair observed in about a quarter of the males of a natural population allow several hypotheses to be advanced on the nature and origin of chromosome dimorphism.

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Barzotti, R., Pelliccia, F. & Rocchi, A. Longitudinal differentiation of chromosomes of Asellus aquaticus (Crust. Isop.) by in situ nick translation using restriction enzymes and DNase I. Chromosome Res 5, 521–526 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018437618242

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018437618242

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