Genome Analysis: Identification of and Relations Between Genomes

Abstract

Originally, the use of the term genome analysis, as introduced by Kihara (1930; see also Lilienfeld 1951), was restricted to the identification of the diploid species which were combined in allopolyploids. It does not refer to the analysis (single) genomes in terms of DNA and gene composition or of gene arrangement as considered in Section 8.3, nor the morphological structure of the chromosomes (karyotype analysis: Chap. 4). Gradually, the meaning of the term was broadened to include the identification of individual chromosomes constituting the different constituting species. Subsequently, quantitative meiotic pairing (affinity) between different, related genomes, not combined in one allopolyploid, was included in genome analysis. In Section 9.2 genome analysis in the original sense, including a discussion of methods to identify the chromosomes belonging to specific genomes and to homoeologous groups will be considered. In Section 9.3 the analysis of quantitative pairing relations between genomes, and its interest for evolutionary and taxonomic studies follow.