Summary
Chromosomes of Rattus rattus (L.), collected in Kusudomari (Nagasaki) and Misima (Sizuoka) were examined. The karyotype revealed a remarkable heteromorphism in chromosome no. 1. The homozygotic, i.e. standard type, was characterized by 13 pairs of telocentric and 7 pairs of metacentric chromosomes. Chromosome pair no. 1 was telocentric. X and Y chromosomes were also telocentrics. 18.4 per cent of rats from Kusudomari and 40 per cent from Misima showed heteromorphic pair in chromosome no. 1. One chromosome of the heteromorphic pair is conspicuous by the subtelocentric centromere. Total length of the telocentric chromosome of no. 1 is almost the same as of its subtelocentric partner. These facts indicate that the subtelocentric no. 1 chromosome might have arisen by a centromeric inversion of the telocentric chromosome. Individuals homozygous for the subtelocentric no. 1 chromosome could not be found in either population. The difference in the frequency of the dimorphics collected in Kusudomari and Misima was statistically significant. Possible causes of the difference are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Carlson, J. G.: The intergeneric homology of an atypical euchromosome in several closely related Acridinae (order Orthoptera). J. Morph. 59, 123–161 (1936).
Cross, J. C.: A comparative study of the chromosomes of rodents. J. Morph. 52, 313–402 (1931).
Da Cunha, A. B., and Th. Dobzhansky: A further study of chromosomal polymorphism in D. willistoni in its relation to the environment. Evolution (Lancaster, Pa.) 8, 119–134 (1954).
—, and Th. Dobzhansky, O. Pavlovsky, and B. Spassky: Genetics of natural populations, XXVIII. Supplementary data on the chromosomal polymorphism in D. willistoni in its relation to the environment. Evolution (Lancaster, Pa.) 13, 389–404 (1959).
Dobzhansky, Th.: Evolution of genes and genes in evolution. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. 24, 15–30 (1959).
—, and A. H. Sturtevant: Inversion in chromosomes of Drosophila pseudoobscura. Genetics 23, 28–64 (1938).
Ellerman, J. R. E., and T. C. S. Morrison-Scott: Checklist of palaearctic and Indian mammals, 1758 to 1946. London: British Museum 1951.
Ford, C. E., J. L. Hamerton, and G. B. Sharman: Chromosome polymorphism in the common shrew. Nature (Lond.) 180, 392–393 (1957).
Hughes-Schrader, S.: The ‘premetaphase strech’ and kinetochore orientation in a phasmid. Chromosoma (Berl.) 3, 1–21 (1947).
Makino, S.: Studies on the murine chromosomes, III. A comparative study of chromosomes in five species of Rattus. J. Fac. Sci., Hokkaido Univ., Ser. VI, 9, 19–57 (1943).
Matthey, R.: Un cas nouveau de polymorphisme chromosomique intraspecifique chez un Mammifere (Leggada minutoides Smith. Rodentia-Muridae). Experientia (Basel) 19, 145–147 (1963); - Polymorphism chromosomique intraspecifique et intra-individuel chez Acomys minous Bate (Mammalia-Rodentia-Muridae). Étude Cytologique des hybrides Acomys minuns ♂ × Acomys cahirinus ♀. Le mechanisme des fusions centriques. Chromosoma (Berl.) 14, 468–497 (1963).
—, et A. Meylan: Le polymorphisme chromosomique de Sorex ananeus L. (Mamm. Insectivora). Étude de deux portées de 5 et 9 petits. Rev. suiss. Zool. 68, 223–227 (1961).
Meylan, A.: Contribution à l'étude du polymorphisme chromosomique chez Sorex araneus (Mamm. Insectivora) (Note préliminaire). Rev. suisse Zool. 67, 258–261 (1960).
Oguma, K.: On the chromosomes of Rattus rattus. Zool. Mag. (Japan) 40, 489–490 (1928); - The chromosomes of four wild species of Muridae. J. Fac. Sci., Hokkaido Univ., Ser. VI, 4, 35–57 (1935).
Oshima, C., T. Watanabe, and T. Watanabe: The persistence of some recessive lethal genes in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster, IV. Proc. Japan Acad. 40, 125–130 (1964).
Payne, F.: A study of the germ cells of Gryllotalpa borealis and Gryllotalpa vulgaris. J. Morph. 28, 287–327 (1916).
Pincus, G.: A comparative study of the chromosomes of the Norway rat (Rattus norvegiens Erxl.) and the black rat (Rattus rattus L.). J. Morph. 44, 515–532 (1927).
Sharman, G. B.: Chromosomes of the common shrew. Nature (Lond.) 177, 941–942 (1956).
Tateishi, S.: On the sex chromosomes of 11 species of the Muridae, etc. Proc. Jap. Ass. Advanc. Sci. 10, 1007–1012 (1935).
White, M. J. D.: A cytological survey of wild populations of Trimerotropis and Circotettix (Orthoptera, Acrididae), I. The chromosomes of twelve species. Genetics 34, 537–563 (1949); - Cytogenetics of orthopteran insects. Advanc. Genet. 4, 267–330 (1951).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Professor H. Bauer on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. — Contributions from the National Institute of Genetics, Misima, Japan, No. 533
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yosida, T.H., Nakamura, A. & Fukaya, T. Chromosomal polymorphism in Rattus rattus (L.) collected in Kusudomari and Misima. Chromosoma 16, 70–78 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320562
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320562