Karyotype of the Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Jarrell, Gordon H.

doi:10.2307/1380102

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The chromosomes were indistinguishable from those of normal bowhead whales (Jarrell, 1979). All cells contained the distinctive Y chromosome and a heterochromosome consistent with the size and shape of a normal X chromosome.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Male Pseudohermaphroditism in the Bowhead Whale, Balaena mysticetus

Tarpley¹,

Jarrell²,

George³

et al. 1995

Journal of Mammalogy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Examination of two bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, revealed an unusual assembly of reproductive structures. Although the external phenotype was female, the gonads were underdeveloped testes. In the more thoroughly studied of the two whales, all derivatives of the mesonephric (wolffian) and paramesonephric (mtillerian) ducts were absent, and there was an apparently normal male karyotype (40 autosomes + XY). These findings suggest a failure of androgen expression consistent with the syndrome of complete testicular feminization reported in other species. Structural comparisons with two normal male bowheads confirm abnormal development in the two affected whales.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Fibroblasts were cultured by routine procedures and were adequate (on second passage growth from lung samples) for limited analysis of chromosomes in accordance with the methods of Jarrell (1979). Six metaphase cells were scored for diploid and fundamental number as well as for presence of the Y chromosome.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male Pseudohermaphroditism in the Bowhead Whale, Balaena mysticetus

Tarpley¹,

Jarrell²,

George³

et al. 1995

Journal of Mammalogy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The 2n=42 karyotypes are found in the odontocete families Ziphiidae and Physeteridae and in the mysticete family Balaenidae. The difference between the 2n=44 karyotypes and the balenid 2n=42 karyotype is primarily due to a translocation (JARRELL 1979). The ziphiid karyotypes appear to show some similarities to the 2n=44 karyotypes (ARNASON et al 1977), but no direct similarities can be pointed out between the 2n=44 karyotypes and that of the sperm whale.…”

mentioning

confidence: 78%

Banding studies on the gray and sperm whale karyotypes

Árnason

2009

Hereditas

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The karyotypes of the gray and sperm whales were studied by means of banding techniques. The gray whale has 2n=44. The morphology of the karyotype conforms with the 2n=44 general cetacean karyotypes. A considerable part of the karyotype is C‐band positive. The C‐bands occur mainly in interstitial and terminal chromosome positions. The G‐banded karyotype showed obvious similarities to other baleen whale karyotypes, in particular the minke whale. The sperm whale has 2n=42. The karyotype differs strikingly from the 2n=44 cetacean karyotypes, primarily due to the absence of telocentric chromosomes. The C‐band studies of the sperm whale further underlined the dissimilarities between the 2n=44 general cetacean karyotype and that of the sperm whale.

show abstract

“…An investigation of this type requires the development of robust bowhead whale cell cultures and organized tissues in the laboratory. Bowhead whale cells were grown in tissue culture on at least two earlier occasions: one pertaining to establishment of the karyotype (23) and the other pertaining to recovery of adenoviral isolates 80B1 and 80B7 (38)(39)(40). These studies, however, did not result in robust cultures.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Selected Contribution: A three-dimensional model for assessment of in vitro toxicity inBalaena mysticetusrenal tissue

Goodwin

Coate-Li

Linnehan

et al. 2000

Journal of Applied Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study established two- and three-dimensional renal proximal tubular cell cultures of the endangered species bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), developed SV40-transfected cultures, and cloned the 61-amino acid open reading frame for the metallothionein protein, the primary binding site for heavy metal contamination in mammals. Microgravity research, modulations in mechanical culture conditions (modeled microgravity), and shear stress have spawned innovative approaches to understanding the dynamics of cellular interactions, gene expression, and differentiation in several cellular systems. These investigations have led to the creation of ex vivo tissue models capable of serving as physiological research analogs for three-dimensional cellular interactions. These models are enabling studies in immune function, tissue modeling for basic research, and neoplasia. Three-dimensional cellular models emulate aspects of in vivo cellular architecture and physiology and may facilitate environmental toxicological studies aimed at elucidating biological functions and responses at the cellular level. Marine mammals occupy a significant ecological niche (72% of the Earth's surface is water) in terms of the potential for information on bioaccumulation and transport of terrestrial and marine environmental toxins in high-order vertebrates. Few ex vivo models of marine mammal physiology exist in vitro to accomplish the aforementioned studies. Techniques developed in this investigation, based on previous tissue modeling successes, may serve to facilitate similar research in other marine mammals.

show abstract

Karyotype of the Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Cited by 20 publications

References 0 publications

Male Pseudohermaphroditism in the Bowhead Whale, Balaena mysticetus

Male Pseudohermaphroditism in the Bowhead Whale, Balaena mysticetus

Banding studies on the gray and sperm whale karyotypes

Selected Contribution: A three-dimensional model for assessment of in vitro toxicity inBalaena mysticetusrenal tissue

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About