RESUMO

Tympanoctomys barrerae, a desert specialist member of the family Octodontidae, until now thought to be conservative, and ancestral to South American hystricognath rodents, presents the highest diploid chromosome number (2n = 102) known in a mammal. Unexpectedly, its karyotype was found to be composed mainly of metacentric to sub-metacentric chromosomes. Mechanisms by which such a karyotype may have been derived are discussed.

Assuntos

Cromossomos , Roedores/genética , Animais , Argentina , Evolução Biológica , Diploide , Feminino , Heterocromatina , Cariotipagem , Masculino