High resolution karyotype of Thai crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

Abstract

Comparative chromosome banding analysis and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies are established approaches to compare human and ape chromosomes. FISH banding is a relatively new and not routinely applied method very well suited to provide to a better understanding of the evolutionary history of primate and human phylogeny. Here multicolor banding (MCB)-applying probes derived from Homo sapiens were used to analyze the chromosomes of Thai crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The results agree with those of previous studies in other macaques, e.g. Macaca sylvanus or Macaca nemestrina. This result highlights that morphological differences within the Cercopithecoidea must be found rather in subchromosomal changes or even in epigenetics than in gross structural alterations.

Keywords

• Macaca fascicularis
• karyotype
• multicolor banding
• fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)