Sequential Q- and C-band staining of pig chromosomes, and some comments on C-band polymorphism and C-band technique

Abstract

Sequential Q- and C-band staining of chromosomes of domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) is presented, probably for the first time, and the C-band pattern is described. Large C-bands were usually found on pair Nos. 1, 13, 15, 16, and 18, but in some animals large C-bands were found on other pairs, too. The C-band method was tested for the ability to reproduce polymorphism. The method seems to be unsuitable for identification of C-band polymorphism of homologous chromosomes, if the number of pre-identified cells from each animal is limited. The reason for this seems to be technical errors. C-band polymorphism of identical pairs indifferent animals was found for pair Nos. 2, 11, 14, and 17, in a limited material. In some animals, however, some pairs showed large C-bands in some cells, but medium or small C-bands in other cells from the same animal. This phenomenon seems to be caused by technical errors. As the C-band patterns of the different pairs of the pig chromosomes are very similar, it seems impossible to use the C-band method for chromosome identification, except for pair No. 16, and for the Y chromosome. This method seems more suited for qualitative than for quantitative identification of the chromatin in the centromere region.