title: Karyotypic analysis of three species of Phasianidae (Galliformes: Aves).
abstract: The karyology of the partridges Francolinus francolinus asiae (2n = 70) and F. pondicerianus interpositus (2n = 68) and the Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica (2n = 78) was investigated. The frequency distribution of the diploid number of chromosomes was tabulated and the most frequent number was taken to be the diploid number. All species showed a bimodal karyotype and the variation in the number of chromosomes was attributed to the macrochromosomes, although twelve macrochromosomes were present in all the species. Female heterogamety revealed that ZZ male:ZW female sex chromosome mechanism was present. The structure and behaviour of chromosomes during mitosis are described and the evolution of karyotype and cytotaxonomic considerations discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, India.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pachlag
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Burra
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Yadav
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002871:Chromosome Banding / Q000662:veterinary; D003370:Coturnix / Q000235:genetics*; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D007621:Karyotyping / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics