Cytological similarity between the heterochromatin of the large x and y chromosomes of the soft-furred field rat, Millardia meltada (family: muridae).
Patterns of DNA replication, fluorescence, and meiotic pairing have been studied in the composite X and Y chromosomes of a rodent, the soft-furred field rat, Millardia meltada. The heterochromatin of both the chromosomes replicated during late S and fluoresces brightly with Netropsin-Olivomycin. The fluorescence with Actinomycin D-Hoechst is dull, suggesting that the heterochromatin of both the X and the Y is relatively GC-rich. When surface-spread testis cells are analyzed after silver staining considerable portions of the X and Y exhibit synapsis. On the basis of this study it appears that the heterochromatin of the X chromosome of M. meltada is substantially similar to that of the Y chromosome.
D000818:Animals; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D009115:Muridae / Q000235:genetics*; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D006570:Heterochromatin