Karyology and Cytogenetics

Abstract

Many recent karyological and karyosystematic studies have made successful attempts to incorporate not only chromosome counts, but also more detailed data on karyomorphology, chromosome banding, interphase nuclear organization, and DNA hybridization tests. They employ methods which have been or are being developed in a limited number of karyologically well-known genera such as Vicia, Allium, or Secale. Especially the banding methods which use dyes specific to DNA base pairs, partly combined with in situ hybridization techniques, now become applicable to a wider range of organisms. They undoubtedly prove to be most useful in comparative systematic studies. In the near future, this approach most probably will succeed to fill the gap between classical karyological studies which use various methods of microscopy and modern DNA sequencing.