RESUMENExisten cuatro especies de camélidos sudamericanos, dos de ellos silvestres, guanaco (Lama guanicoe) y vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), y dos formas domésticas, alpaca (Lama pacos) y llama (Lama glama), cuyo origen ha sido objeto de debate. En el presente estudio la variación en el patrón de bandas G de los cromosomas de llamas y alpacas y la secuencia de dos genes mitocondriales han sido usados para estudiar el origen y la clasificación de llamas y alpacas. Patrones de bandas cromosómicas similares fueron observados en las cuatro especies de Lamini, incluso similares a los descritos para camello, Camelus bactrianus. Sin embargo, se encontraron finas y consistentes diferencias en los brazos cortos del cromosoma 1, permitiendo separar a camellos, guanacos y llamas, de las de vicuñas y alpacas. Este patrón fue consistente incluso en un híbrido guanaco x alpaca. Relaciones equivalentes fueron encontradas en las secuencias completas del gen para citocromo b, así como en el árbol de expansión mínima de las secuencias parciales de la región control, agrupando a guanacos con llamas y a vicuñas con alpacas. Los análisis filogenéticos mostraron a V. vicugna y a L. guanicoe como grupos recíprocamente monofiléticos. El análisis de las secuencias de ambos genes mostró dos clados entre las vicuñas, concordantes con las subespecies reconocidas para esta especie, pero los resultados obtenidos para guanacos no reflejaron la existencia de las cuatro subespecies previamente propuestas. El análisis combinado de variaciones cromosómicas y moleculares demostraron una alta similitud genética entre alpacas y vicuñas, así como entre llamas y guanacos. Aunque se revela hibridización direccional, nuestros resultados apoyan fuertemente la hipótesis de que la llama se deriva de L. guanicoe, y la alpaca de V. vicugna, apoyando la reclasificación de la alpaca como V. pacos.Palabras clave: Camelidae, Lama pacos, Vicugna pacos, Lama glama, cromosomas, citocromo b, d-loop. ABSTRACTFour camelid species exist in South America: two wild, the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), and two domestic, the alpaca (Lama pacos) and the llama (Lama glama). However, the origin of the domestic species has been a matter of debate. In the present study, variations in chromosome G banding patterns and in two mitochondrial gene sequences have been used to study the origin and classification of the llama and alpaca. Similar patterns in chromosome G band structure were observed in all four Lamini species, and these in turn were similar to the bands described for camels, Camelus bactrianus. However, fine and consistent differences were found in the short arms of chromosome 1, separating camels, guanacos and llamas from vicuñas and alpacas. This pattern was consistent even in a hybrid guanaco x alpaca. Equivalent relationship

Fragile X Syndrome is caused by expansion of CGG repeats to >200 in 5′-untranslated region of fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene [full mutation (FM)]. Carriers of an FMR1 repeat expansion in premutation range (55–200 CGG repeats) often develop a syndrome similar to parkinsonism, designated fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Neurological signs of FXTAS, parkinsonism and rapid onset of cognitive decline have not been reported in individuals with an unmethylated FM. We report a Chilean family affected with FXS, inherited from a parent carrier of an FMR1 unmethylated full mosaic allele, who presented with a fast progressing FXTAS Our case suggests that the definition of FXTAS may need to be broadened to not only include those with a premutation and to include in addition those with an expanded allele in FM range with a lack of methylation leading to elevated FMR1-mRNA expression levels and subsequent RNA toxicity.

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Complete achromatopsia is genetically heterogeneous and segregates with mutations in CNGA3 or CNGB3 genes, which respectively encode for a-and b-subunits of the cyclic-nucleotide-gated (CNG) cation channel expressed in cone photoreceptors. High incidence of the disease (1 in 60) was detected in a rural isolate in central Chile. We excluded previously reported mutations in a consanguineous kindred with five affected members. Genotype analysis with short tandem repeat polymorphic (STRP) markers provided evidence to search for the causative mutation in CNGB3. Two sequence variations, c.492_493insT and c.488A4G, flanking an adenosine (A 5 ) repeat in exon 4 were identified. The frameshift mutation creates two consecutive stop codons in exon 5 that would induce premature translation termination. The severely truncated b-subunit is likely to render a nonfunctional cone CNG channel and cause total colour blindness in this kindred.