Advance in chromosomal evolution in sea cradles

Advance in chromosomal evolution in sea cradles
This is a live image of the studied sea cradle. Credit: Gaetano Odierna

A chromosomal study performed in a common Mediterranean chiton (sea cradle) provides information, relevant to systematic relationships of the species; furthermore the comparison of its karyotype with ones in literature allows the authors to put forward a hypothesis on chromosome evolution of this group of mollusks. The study was published in the open access journal Comparative Cytogenetics.

The study of chromosome changes arisen during is a current and intriguing topic that proposes. However, in several groups (for example, molluscs), and chitons in particular, chromosome studies are scarce, with a few species investigated and analyses performed mostly with simple methods.

Only 2,5% of about 900 living species of chitons have been so far karyologically investigated, all of them in the same order (Chitonida). The authors note that the species of suborder Chitonina all have a karyotype of 2n=24 chromosomes, all biarmed, that is metacentric or submetacentric. The species studied by the authors, formerly included in Chitonida, also possesses 2n=24 elements, but many are uniarmed and, therefore, resembling to the chromosome complement of species of the suborder Acanthochitonina. This provides support to recent attribution of the studied sea cradle to the latter suborder.

Furthermore, the comparison among the karyotypes of the suborder Acanthochitonina allows the authors to propose that in this group of chromosome changes mainly occurred by fusion among uniarmed elements. This kind of change is that mainly involved in chromosome . The study was published in the open access journal Comparative Cytogenetics.

More information: Petraccioli A, Maio N, Odierna G (2012) Chromosomes of Lepidochitona caprearum (Scacchi, 1836) (Polyplacophora, Acanthochitonina, Tonicellidae) provide insights into Acanthochitonina karyological evolution. Comparative Cytogenetics 6(4): 397. doi: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v6i4.3722

Odierma G, Aprea G, Barucca M. Biscotti M, Canapa A, Capriglione T, Olmo E (2008) Karyology of the Antarctic chiton Nuttallochiton mirandus (Thiele, 1906) (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) with some considerations on chromosome evolution in chitons. Chromosome Research 16: 899. doi: 10.1007/s10577-008-1247-1

Provided by Pensoft Publishers

Citation: Advance in chromosomal evolution in sea cradles (2012, December 12) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2012-12-advance-chromosomal-evolution-sea-cradles.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Does polyploidy play a role in the onset of the Italian endemic flora?

0 shares

Feedback to editors