Cytogenetic studies in three species of larids and three species of alcids

Abstract

The embryonic tissues of 3 larids (Larus argentatus, Larus marinus, Rissa tridactyla) and 3 species of alcids (Uria aalge, Alca torda, Fraterula arctica) were grown in vitro as primary explants to develop a method for harvesting mitotic chromosomes. A reliable method was developed, with chromosomes that were harvested being stained with a fluorescent dye. Partial karyotypes and idiograms of the largest 13 autosomes were made for each species. Based on the p arm to q arm ratios the centromere position for each chromosome was determined. Comparisons were then made between larid species and alcid species as well as between groups (larid/alcid) and the significant differences were noted.