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Karyotype Evolution: Concepts and Applications

  • Kátia Ferreira Marques de Resende
Chapter
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Abstract

The karyotype is the characterization of number, size, and morphology of the set of chromosomes of a species, as seen under the microscope. Studying the karyotypic evolution of a group of organisms is necessary to obtain data such as number of chromosomes, the position of the centromeres, and the number and positions of secondary constrictions and banding patterns. The karyotype study is important to help identify karyotypic polymorphism and interspecific and intraspecific cytogenetic variation and evolution. It also helps us in understanding the relationship between chromosome number, amount of DNA, and complexity of the organisms. Thus, the main application of studies of evolution karyotype is in the (cyto)taxonomy/systematics and phylogeny which will be discussed in the present chapter with examples in plants of the genus Carex (Cyperaceae), which exhibits karyological peculiarities with holocentric chromosomes and continual variation in chromosome number; of the genus Allium, which has polymorphic species with karyotype analysis and size genome described; of the genus Crepis, which has been a model of cytological studies with karyotype evolution; of the Crocus series (Iridaceae), which is characterized by high intra- and interspecific variability of karyotypes; of the genera Cassia, Chamaecrista, and Senna; and, finally, in epiphytic cacti (Lepismium) and species of the Rhipsalis and Delphinium, in species of scorpions (Androctonus), and in the genus Oligoryzomys (Rodentia).

Keywords

Chromosome number Cytogenetics Cytotaxonomy DNA content Karyotype Phylogeny 

Abbreviations

CMA

A3 chromomycin

DAPI

4′,6-diamidino-2- phenylindole

RON

Nucleolus organizer regions

FISH

Fluorescent in situ hybridization

GISH

Genomic in situ hybridization

m

Metacentric

sm

Submetacentric

a

Acrocentric

t

Telocentric

AR

Ratio of arms

CI

Centromeric index

Tli

Total length of chromosome i

TLLH

Total length lot haploid

RL

Relative length of each chromosome

FN

Fundamental number

A1

Intrachromosomal asymmetry index

A2

Interchromosomal asymmetry index

SA

Short arm

LA

Long arm

OMO

Oligoryzomys moojeni

pg

Picograms

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Notes

Glossary

Autapomorphies 

Derived character that is present exclusively in a single terminal taxon of a given cladogram

Chromosome painting 

Technique related to the differential staining of all chromosomes of the species, using a pool of differently labeled specific fluorescent probes

Chromosome polytene 

Formed by several overlapping chromatids, derived from repeated duplication of DNA strands without cell division, found in the salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster

Flow cytometry 

Technique for counting, examining, and classifying microscopic particles suspended in a liquid medium through an opto-electronic detection apparatus, for example, determining the amount of DNA/nucleus

Fluorescent in situ hybridization 

Cytogenetic technique used to detect and localize specific DNA sequences in chromosomes using fluorescent probes

Genomic in situ hybridization 

Cytogenetic technique like FISH to locate genomic probes, i.e., an entire genome, in chromosomal set of a given species

Haploid set 

Has only one chromosome of each pair of homologous chromosome

Nucleolar fusion 

The cells may have several nucleoli, but there is usually a fusion so they have only one or two

Primary constriction 

Partially decondensed region that relates to the mechanisms of cell division, presenting the kinetochore, where the spindle fibers attach

Secondary constrictions 

Observed in at least one of the chromosomes of each species which is closely related to the organizer regions of the nucleolus presenting ribosomal RNA genes for transcription that constitute most of the nucleolus

Synapomorphies 

Derived character shared by more than one group

Syntenic association or synteny 

Presence of two or more loci genes on the same chromosome

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© Springer India 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Lab of Plant Cytogenetics, Department of Biology/DBIFederal University of Lavras/UFLALavrasBrazil

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