G-banded karyotypes of three Galliformes species, Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus), Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), and Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Abstract

G-banded karyotypes of three Galliformes species, the Domestic Fowl (Gallus domesticus), the Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and the Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), are presented. The species have different G-banded karyotypes. The Quail differs from the other species with respect to a pericentric inversion in chromosome 1, and the Turkey differs from the other species with respect to chromosome 2 which has split into two chromosomes (centric fission). The evolutionary consequences of these rearrangements are discussed.