B Chromosomes in <i>Psalidodon scabripinnis</i> (Characiformes, Characidae) Species Complex
Duílio M. Z. A. Silva,
Jonathan P. Castro,
Caio A. G. Goes,
Ricardo Utsunomia,
Mateus R. Vidal,
Cristiano N. Nascimento,
Lucas F. Lasmar,
Fabilene G. Paim,
Letícia B. Soares,
Claudio Oliveira,
Fábio Porto-Foresti,
Roberto F. Artoni,
Fausto Foresti
Affiliations
Duílio M. Z. A. Silva
Laboratory of Biology and Genetics of Fishes, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil
Jonathan P. Castro
Post-Graduate Program in Evolutionary Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil
Caio A. G. Goes
Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University, Bauru 17033-360, SP, Brazil
Ricardo Utsunomia
Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University, Bauru 17033-360, SP, Brazil
Mateus R. Vidal
Laboratory of Biology and Genetics of Fishes, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil
Cristiano N. Nascimento
Laboratory of Biology and Genetics of Fishes, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil
Lucas F. Lasmar
Laboratory of Biology and Genetics of Fishes, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil
Fabilene G. Paim
Laboratory of Biology and Genetics of Fishes, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil
Letícia B. Soares
Laboratory of Biology and Genetics of Fishes, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil
Claudio Oliveira
Laboratory of Biology and Genetics of Fishes, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil
Fábio Porto-Foresti
Laboratory of Fish Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, São Paulo State University, Bauru 17033-360, SP, Brazil
Roberto F. Artoni
Post-Graduate Program in Evolutionary Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil
Fausto Foresti
Laboratory of Biology and Genetics of Fishes, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil
B chromosomes are extra-genomic components of cells found in individuals and in populations of some eukaryotic organisms. They have been described since the first observations of chromosomes, but several aspects of their biology remain enigmatic. Despite being present in hundreds of fungi, plants, and animal species, only a small number of B chromosomes have been investigated through high-throughput analyses, revealing the remarkable mechanisms employed by these elements to ensure their maintenance. Populations of the Psalidodon scabripinnis species complex exhibit great B chromosome diversity, making them a useful material for various analyses. In recent years, important aspects of their biology have been revealed. Here, we review these studies presenting a comprehensive view of the B chromosomes in the P. scabripinnis complex and a new hypothesis regarding the role of the B chromosome in the speciation process.
