ZZ/ZW Sex Determination with Multiple Neo-Sex Chromosomes is Common in Madagascan Chameleons of the Genus Furcifer (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae).

ABSTRACT: Chameleons are well-known, highly distinctive lizards characterized by unique morphological and physiological traits, but their karyotypes and sex determination system have remained poorly studied. We studied karyotypes in six species of Madagascan chameleons of the genus Furcifer by classical (conventional stain, C-banding) and molecular (comparative genomic hybridization, in situ hybridization with rDNA, microsatellite, and telomeric sequences) cytogenetic approaches. In contrast to most sauropsid lineages, the chameleons of the genus Furcifer show chromosomal variability even among closely related species, with diploid chromosome numbers varying from 2n = 22 to 2n = 28. We identified female heterogamety with cytogenetically distinct Z and W sex chromosomes in all studied species. Notabl

SUBMITTER: Rovatsos M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6947276 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature