Conventional and G-Banding Karyotype Variations of Three Duck Breeds Occurring in Egypt

Abstract

In the present work, the chromosome variation and comparative analysis of conventional and G-banding karyotypes between three duck breeds (Pekin, Soudani and Baladi) occurring in Egypt were carried out. Almost all examined cells of the three studied duck breeds showed 7 macro-chromosome pairs and Z, W and 64 microchromosomes (less than 1 micron in size and so called microchromosomes). Some of karyological parameters such as chromosome length, q and p arm lengths, arm ratio, Intra chromosomal asymmetry degree (AsD) and karyotypic asymmetry (AsK) were calculated. Results showed notable differences of the karyotype characteristics between the three studied duck breeds. Likewise,the studies macrochromosomes showed three different categories of karyotypic formulas were obtained (1m+7sm+1st for Baladi, 3m+6sm for Pekin and 9sm for Sudani) including sex chromosomes. Into AsD and AsK parameters also varied among the studied breeds. There was visible variation in the G-banding patterns and their constructed physical maps of the seven pairs of autosomes and sex chromosomes between the three studied duck breeds.