Nová P, Reutter B A, Rábová M, Zima J
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Cytogenet Genome Res. 2002;96(1-4):186-90. doi: 10.1159/000063033.
Variation in heterochromatin content, as revealed by G- and C-banding, was studied in the sex chromosomes of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus. The sex-chromosome heterochromatin was also characterized by DAPI staining. Variation in sex chromatin was recorded in extremely large (giant) sex chromosomes in certain individuals and populations. In some individuals, the Y chromosome was the largest element of the complement. Different variants of both the X and Y chromosomes were found within a single population. The variation is therefore a type of population polymorphism and should not be used for taxonomic discrimination.
