Chromosomal Localization of 18S-28S rDNA and (TTAGGG)n Sequences in Two South African Dormice of the Genus Graphiurus (Rodentia: Gliridae).

Classical cytogenetics and mapping of 18S-28S rDNA and (TTAGGG)<>n sequences by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on Graphiurus platyops (GPL) and Graphiurus ocularis (GOC) metaphases with the aim to characterize the genomes. In both species, inverted DAPI karyotypes showed the same diploid number, 2n = 46, and hybridization of the (TTAGGG)<>n probe revealed interstitial telomeric sequences (ITSs) at the centromeres of almost all bi-armed chromosomes. FISH with the rDNA probe localized nucleolus organizer regions (NORs), at the terminal ends of the p arms of the telocentric pairs 16 and 17 in both species and detected additional signals on GPL8 and GOC18, 1…