Karyological evidence for diversification of Italian slow worm populations (Squamata, Anguidae)

Abstract

A karyological analysis on six Italian populations the slow worm (Anguis veronensis Pollini, 1818) was performed and their genetic differentiation at the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene fragment from a Spanish sample has been assessed. The Italian populations were karyologically uniform, all showing 2n=44 elements, of which 20 were macrochromosomes and 24 microchromosomes. Comparison with literature data on Central European populations showed a difference on the morphology of the 10th chromosome pair: submetacentric in Italian populations and telocentric in the Central European ones. Our analysis showed the presence of a fragile site on chromosomes of this pair, suggesting its propensity for structural rearrangements. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene fragment showed uniformity among Italian populations (uncorrected genetic distance of 0.4%), and their genetic distinctness from the Spanish individual (uncorrected genetic distance of 4.2%). Our results confirm the existence of two different Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758 lineages, each one characterized by a different cytotype.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Eastern slow worm, Anguis colchica (Nordmann, 1840)

“…Furthermore, the same genetic tools proved the presence of fifth slow worm species, A. veronensis Pollini, 1818, endemic for Apennine Peninsula (Gvo zd ık et al 2013). Further analyses confirmed earlier studies and showed distinctness of the new species and their deep intraspecific variability (Mezzasalma et al 2013;Jablonski et al 2016).…”

Karyological analyses of Pseudhymenochirus merlini and Hymenochirus boettgeri provide new insights into the chromosome evolution in the anuran family Pipidae

“…All specimens were injected with 0.1 ml/10 g body weight of a 0.5 mg/ml colchicine solution, and after two hours, they were deeply anaesthetized by immersion in a solution of tricaine methasolfonate (SIGMA) at 10 mg/100 ml. Chromosomes were obtained from intestine, spleen, gonads and tips of lungs as described in Mezzasalma et al (2013). Besides standard chromosome morphological staining (performed using a 0.5% Giemsa solution at pH7), the following chromosome banding methods were used: Ag-NOR banding according to Howell and Black (1980); Chromomycin A 3 (CMA)/methyl green banding as described by Aprea et al (2007); G-banding according to a combination of the trypsin method of Seabright (1971) and the AGS method (Acetic Giemsa Saline) of Sumner et al (1971): chromosomes were incubated for two hours at 60°C, exposed for 15 sec to a solution of trypsin 1:250 (Sigma) (diluted 1:100 in distilled water) washed in EtOH 100%, air dried, incubated in 2xSSC (2x Sodium Saline Citrate) per 10 min at 60°C and stained with 5% Giemsa.…”

Non‐random accumulation of LINE1‐like sequences on differentiated snake W chromosomes

“…Metaphase plates of the studied species were obtained from fixed cell suspensions stored at the Department of Biology of the University of Naples Federico II and from blood cell cultures, following the methods described by Mezzasalma et al (2013). FISH was performed as reported by Petraccioli, Maio & Odierna (2012), using mouse antibiotin antibody and FITC rabbit antimouse antibody.…”