The Cytogenetics of Domestic Geese

Abstract

Hybrids were produced between an African male and several Pilgrim female domestic geese. Partial karyotypes revealed a difference in the fourth largest pair of autosomal chromosomes. This chromosome pair was metacentric in the African, submetacentric in the Pilgrim, and heteromorphic in the hybrids. A similar difference between the putative wild ancestors of the African and Pilgrim breeds has been reported by others. These findings provide cytological evidence to support the traditional opinion that the African breed was derived from the Asiatic swan goose (Anser cygnoides) and the Pilgrim breed was derived from the European greylag goose (Anser anser).

Karyotype and C-banding Pattern of the Domestic Geese <I>Anser anser</I> Populations (Aves: Anatidae) in Egypt

“…This agrees with the findings of GOLDSCHMIDT et al (2000), ANDRASZEK et al (2007) and WÓJCIK and SMALEC (2007, 2008. Conversely, the W chromosome was metacentric in all populations examined; this result is consistent with the data presented by GOLDSCHMIDT et al (2000), however, it contradicts SILVERSIDES et al (1988), APITZ et al (1995) and SMALEC (2007, 2008) who assigned it as submetacentric. This difference in chromosome nomenclature may be due to some intrachromosomal rearrangements such as addition or deletion of chromosomal segments caused by pericentric inversion (GRIFFIN et al 2007;SHIBUSAWA et al 2004;NANDA et al 2008).…”

“…1 was submetacentric in all populations. This finding is consistent with that found in both A. anser and A. cygnoides (SILVERSIDES et al 1988;HIDAS 1993HIDAS , 1999APITZ et al 1995;ANDRASZEK et al 2007;WÓJCIK & SMALEC 2007, 2008. Pair no.…”

“…Nevertheless, pair no. 4 was metacentric; this is in agreement with the description of BEL- TERMAN and DE BOER (1984) and WÓJCIK and SMALEC (2008) but it contradicts the findings of SILVERSIDES et al (1988), HIDAS (1993HIDAS ( , 1999, APITZ et al (1995), ANDRASZEK et al (2007) and WÓJCIK and SMALEC (2007) who described it as submetacentric.…”

“…Most morphological karyotype and banding pattern studies of various goose species were carried out on individuals occurring outside Egypt (HAM-MAR 1966;BHATNAGAR 1968;BEÇAK et al 1975;SHOFFNER et al 1979;BELTERMAN & DE BOER 1984;SILVERSIDES et al 1988;CHRISTIDIS 1989;CRAWFORD 1990;HIDAS 1993;APITZ et al 1995;RABSZTYN et al 1998;ANDRASZEK et al 2007ANDRASZEK et al , 2010WÓJCIK & SMALEC 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, however, up to date no further studies involved geese common from Egypt.…”

Review on the development of genotyping methods for assessing farm animal diversity

“…Chromosomes are the carriers of genetic material and chromosome mutations are crucial sources of genetic variation [5], we can use these mutations as markers to determine the specific location of a gene on the chromosome, and its position relative to other genes. For instance, researchers can trace the origins and evolutionary history of livestock [6], and assess the genetic diversity of domesticated animals by comparing chromosome number and structure between domesticated animals and their wild ancestors [7]. …”