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Understanding the chromosomal evolution in cuckoos (Aves, Cuculiformes): a journey through unusual rearrangements.

Authors :
Kretschmer R
Santos de Souza M
Gunski RJ
Del Valle Garnero A
de Freitas TRO
Zefa E
Toma GA
Cioffi MB
Herculano CorrĂȘa de Oliveira E
O'Connor RE
Griffin DK
Source :
Genome [Genome] 2024 Jun 01; Vol. 67 (6), pp. 168-177. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Feb 12.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

The Cuculiformes are a family of over 150 species that live in a range of habitats, such as forests, savannas, and deserts. Here, bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes (75 from chicken and 14 from zebra finch macrochromosomes 1-10 +ZW and for microchromosomes 11-28 (except 16)) were used to investigate chromosome homologies between chicken and the squirrel cuckoo ( Piaya cayana ). In addition, repetitive DNA probes were applied to characterize the chromosome organization and to explore the role of these sequences in the karyotype evolution of P . cayana . We also applied BAC probes for chicken chromosome 17 and Z to the guira cuckoo ( Guira guira ) to test whether this species has an unusual Robertsonian translocation between a microchromosome and the Z chromosome, recently described in the smooth-billed ani ( Crotophaga ani ). Our results revealed extensive chromosome reorganization with inter- and intrachromosomal rearrangements in P . cayana , including a conspicuous chromosome size and heterochromatin polymorphism on chromosome pair 20. Furthermore, we confirmed that the Z-autosome Robertsonian translocation found in C . ani is also found in G . guira , not P . cayana . These findings suggest that this translocation occurred prior to the divergence between C . ani and G . guira , but after the divergence with P . cayana .<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1480-3321
Volume :
67
Issue :
6
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Genome
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38346285
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1139/gen-2023-0101