Genome of the whooping crane.

Abstract

The genome of an endangered avian species, the whooping crane (Grus americana) has been examined using the methods of karyotype analysis, cytofluorometry, and analytical ultracentrifugation. This species has a karyotype (2n = 82) common to the other crane species previously examined with five autosomal pairs and one sex chromosome pair as the macrochromosomes, and a large number of microchromosomes. Sex chromosomes are heteromorphic in females permitting sexing by means of chromosome analysis. The DNA buoyant density in neutral CsCl reveals the presence of two heavy satellite bands, and uncommon finding when compared to previous studies of avian DNA.