title: Chromosome Polymorphism in Microtus (Alexandromys) mujanensis (Arvicolinae, Rodentia).
abstract: The Muya Valley vole (Microtus mujanensis) has a constant diploid chromosome number of 2n = 38, but an unstable karyotype with polymorphic chromosome pairs. Here, we describe 4 karyotypic variants involving 2 polymorphic chromosome pairs, MMUJ8 and MMUJ14, in 6 animals from Buryatia using a combination of GTG-banding and chromosome painting with M. agrestis probes. We suggest that the polymorphic pairs MMUJ8 and MMUJ14 were formed through pericentric inversions that played a major role during karyotype evolution of the species. We also propose that the stable diploid number with some ongoing polymorphism in the number of chromosome arms indicates that this evolutionarily young endemic species of Russian Far East is on the way to karyotype and likely species stabilization.
authors: Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
authors: Natalya A
authors: NA
authors: Lemskaya
authors: Irina V
authors: IV
authors: Kartavtseva
authors: Nadezhda V
authors: NV
authors: Rubtsova
authors: Fedor N
authors: FN
authors: Golenishchev
authors: Irina N
authors: IN
authors: Sheremetyeva
authors: Alexander S
authors: AS
authors: Graphodatsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000235:genetics*; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D020223:Chromosome Painting; D002875:Chromosomes; D005260:Female; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic