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Comparative analysis of rDNA location in five Neotropical gomphocerine grasshopper species

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Abstract

We report here, for the first time, the chromosome complement, number and location of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) revealed by silver staining (AgNO3) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in five Neotropical gomphocerine species: Rhammatocerus brasiliensis, R. brunneri, R. palustris, R. pictus and Amblytropidia sp. The objective of this study was to summarize available data and propose a model of chromosome evolution in Neotropical gomphocerines. All five species studied showed chromosome numbers consisting of 2n = 23,X0 in males and 2n = 24,XX in females. Amblytropidia sp. was the only species showing a bivalent (M8) with megameric behavior during meiosis. The rDNA sites were restricted to autosomal pairs, i.e. the pericentromeric region of the S9 chromosome, the consensus NOR location in all five species. R. brasiliensis was the only species showing additional NORs on M4 and M6 pairs which, likewise the S9 NOR, were active in all cells analyzed. Comparison of these results with those reported previously in Palearctic gomphocerine species suggests higher resemblance of Neotropical species with the Old World species also possessing 23/24 chromosomes. Evolutionary mechanisms responsible for the observed interspecific variation in NOR location in this group are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Carlos S. Carbonell, Universidade de Montevideo, Uruguay, for the taxonomic identification of the species and for providing the Rhammatocerus pictus specimens. The authors also grateful to Dr. Aline Alexandrino for the revision of the manuscript. This study was supported by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior)-Doctoral Sandwich Program, and FACEPE (Fundação de Amparo à Ciência do Estado de Pernambuco). J. Cabrero, M.D. López-León and J.P.M. Camacho are indebted to Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (BOS2003–06635) and Plan Andaluz de Investigación, Group No. CVI-165, Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Genética, CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil

    Vilma Loreto & Maria José de Souza

  2. Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Josefa Cabrero, Maria Dolores López-León & Juan Pedro M. Camacho

  3. Unidade Acadêmica de Garanhuns, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Brasil

    Vilma Loreto

  4. Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s\n, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, PE, 50732-970, Brasil

    Vilma Loreto

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  1. Vilma Loreto
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  2. Josefa Cabrero
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  3. Maria Dolores López-León
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  4. Juan Pedro M. Camacho
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  5. Maria José de Souza
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Correspondence to Vilma Loreto.

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Loreto, V., Cabrero, J., López-León, M.D. et al. Comparative analysis of rDNA location in five Neotropical gomphocerine grasshopper species. Genetica 132, 95–101 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-007-9152-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-007-9152-7

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