Complex rearrangements in the evolution of hominoid chromosome XVII

Abstract

A gene cluster located on chromosome 17 in the human genome was mapped by fluorescent in situ hybridization to the chromosomes of the great apes. In situ hybridization uses the base pairing complementarily of a labeled probe to establish its position on the chromosomes of a metaphase cell. In no case does the location of the U2 cluster in any of the great apes appear to be identical to that in the human. This implies that several rearrangements to chromosome 17 have accompanied the diversification of the large-bodied Hominoidea. These include one translocation and at least three inversions. © 1993 Academic Press. All rights reserved.