Three independent databases of eukaryotic genome size information have been launched or re-released in updated form since 2005: the Plant DNA C-values Database (), the Animal Genome Size Database () and the Fungal Genome Size Database (). In total, these databases provide freely accessible genome size data for >10 000 species of eukaryotes assembled from more than 50 years' worth of literature. Such data are of significant importance to the genomics and broader scientific community as fundamental features of genome structure, for genomics-based comparative biodiversity studies, and as direct estimators of the cost of complete sequencing programs.

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We investigated chromosome evolution in Nemesia using fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) to identify the locations of 5S and 45S (18-26S) ribosomal genes. Although there was conservation between Nemesia species in chromosome number, size and centromere position, there was large variation in both number and position of ribosomal genes in different Nemesia species (21 different arrangements of 45S and 5S rRNA genes were observed in the 29 Nemesia taxa studied). Nemesia species contained between one and three pairs of 5S arrays and between two and four pairs of 45S arrays. These were either sub-terminally or interstitially located and 45S and 5S arrays were often located on the same chromosome pair. Comparison of the positions of rDNA arrays with meiotic chromosome behaviour in interspecific hybrids of Nemesia suggests that some of the changes in the positions of rDNA have not affected the surrounding chromosome regions, indicating that rDNA has changed position by transposition. Chromosome evolution is frequently thought to occur via structural rearrangements such as inversions and translocations. We suggest that, in Nemesia, transposition of rDNA genes may be equally if not more important in chromosome evolution.

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