Chromosomal characterization of three centric fusion translocations in cattle using G-, R- and C-banding and FISH technique

Five cattle, two of the Podolian breed, two Grey Alpine, and one Chianina, all of which were heterozygous carriers of three centric fusion translocations (rob-1;29, rob-4;8, rob-25;27), underwent cytogenetic investigation. The use of G-, R- and C-banding patterns, combined with the FISH technique by using both type I molecular markers and some human chromosome painting probes, allowed the precise identification of chromosomes involved in the chromosomal abnormalities, compared to previous reports. While the chromosomes involved in the well known rob (1;29) were confirmed, BTA6 (not BTA-4) was involved in the second translocation. Furthermore, BTA26 and BTA29 (not BTA25 and BTA27) were involved in the third translocation. C-banding patterns confirmed the monocentric nature of rob (1;29) and revealed the dicentric nature of both rob(6;8) and rob (26;29). The importance of these marker chromosomes in bovid chromosome nomenclatures is also discussed.