Probe generated by Y chromosome microdissection is useful for analysing the sex chromosomes of the domestic horse

Abstract

Microdissection of chromosomes is an invaluable tool for physical isolation of single chromosomes, chromosome arms or chromosome bands. In the present study we have generated a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probe from the microdissected Y chromosome of the domestic horse. For the identification of the Y chromosome, we used the CBG technique. A biotin-labelled probe in the FISH technique gave a specific signal on all Y chromosomes and an additional signal in the interstitial part of the long arm of the X chromosome. This area showed an additional C band detected by the CBG method and characteristic for this chromosome. The probe obtained can therefore be used for analysis of the Y and X chromosomes and their copies in the genome, and, in the case of the X chromosome, also for gene mapping.