The banded karyotype of the 2n = 58 chromosomal race of mole rats from Erzincan, Turkey

Abstract

Abstract. In this study, the 2n = 58 chromosomal race of blind mole rats, Nannospalax xanthodon, from the Erzincan province in Turkey was investigated. Conventional chromosome staining, Ag-NOR staining and C-banding analysis were carried out in the specimens studied. The karyotype included three small or medium-sized meta/submetacentric pairs and twenty-five acrocentric pairs of autosomes of gradually diminishing size (NFa = 62). C-heterochromatin regions were found in centromeric and pericentromeric areas or in short arms of some bi-armed autosomal pairs and in pericentromeric areas of a few acrocentric autosomes. The X chromosome had a centromeric C-positive band and the short arm of the Y chromosome appeared to be C-positively stained. The NORs were localized in distal heterochromatin areas of the short arms of two pairs of biarmed and one pair of acrocentric autosomes. Within the 58 chromosome populations reported from Turkey, two groups can be recognized differing by the presence or absence of a larg...