Chromosomal homology of wood bison and plains bison

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Ying, K. L., Peden, D. G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1977
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Bison bison athabascae; Wood Bison; Bison bison bison; Plains Bison
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z77-227; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z77-227

Karyotypes of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) and plains bison (Bison bison bison) were studied. Both subspecies were characterized by the same number of chromosomes (2n = 60), acrocentric autosomes, submetacentric X chromosomes, and an acrocentric Y chromosome. G-banding patterns suggest that when comparing wood bison and plains bison, 20 pair plus the sex chromosomes are homologous. Whether or not the remaining nine pair of chromosomes are homologous remains unknown.