| Summary: | Metaphase chromosomes from blood lymphocytes of the muskox, Ovibos moschatus , and takin, Budorcas taxicolor , were prepared using a trypsin-Giemsa banding technique. The technique revealed extensive similarity in chromosome morphology and a large degree of homology in banding patterns, supporting a close phylogenetic relationship between the two species. When G-banded metacentric chromosomes of the muskox were compared with those of domestic sheep, Ovis aries , clear differences in chromosome structure were apparent, indicating that Ovibos and Budorcas arose independently of Ovis , possibly from a goat-like ancestor with an entirely acrocentric set of autosomes.
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