Genome size variation in the common frog Rana temporaria

Abstract

Genome size variation in the common frog (Rana temporaria) was investigated with flow cytometry in three latitudinally separated populations in Sweden to see whether it could provide a useful tool for sex-identification in this species. Depending on the sex and population, per cell DNA content (2C value) varied from 8.823 to 11.266 pg with a mean (± SE) 2C value of 9.9619±0.083 pg. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences in genome size among populations and between sexes. Females had ca 3% larger genomes (x=10.133±0.068 pg) than males (x=9.832±0.068 pg) in all of the populations (sex × population interaction: P>0.10). Individuals from the southernmost population had significantly (x=9.330±0.081 pg) smaller genomes than those from the more northern populations (x=10.032±0.085 and x=10.584±0.085 pg, respectively). These results are in line with the interpretation that males in the common frog are the heterogametic sex, and that there exists large (up to 12%) geographic variation in genome size in this species. However, the sex differences in the genome size are too small to be useful in individual sex identification.