Syrian hamster 5S rRNA genes are assigned to 6q2 with PNA-FISH by an R-banded karyotype.

A karyotype for the Syrian hamster is proposed based on an R-banding pattern. R-bands were obtained by BrdU incorporation into the cells followed by a combined DAPI and propidium iodide staining of the fixed metaphase spreads. In situ hybridisation was performed with two biotinylated 18-mer PNA (peptide nucleic acid) probes complementary to sequences within the 5S rRNA gene. The 5S rRNA gene repeats map to chromosome 6q2. The present PNA-FISH procedure is an abbreviated and simpler version of that previously published.