Meiosis in interspecific equine hybrids

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Abstract
Male and female Przewalski horse/domestic horse hybrids are fertile, unlike all other known interspecific equine hybrids, in which meiosis is almost totally arrested in prophase. In the male Przewalski/horse hybrid (2n = 65) we have shown that a trivalent is formed at the first meiotic division, segregation from which gives two classes of genetically balanced spermatozoa. Both of these are capable of producing normal offspring if they fertilize the eggs of a domestic mare. Chromosome banding studies show a close homology between the karyotypes of the Przewalski horse (2n = 66) and the domestic horse (2n = 64), and it is evident that a single Robert-sonian translocation has occurred, transforming four acrocentric chromosomes of E. przewalskii into two metacentric chromosomes in E. caballus. Thus the parental genetic backgrounds are sufficiently similar to permit normal gametogenesis, with regular segregation from the trivalent of the F1 hybrid at meiosis. The significance of this is discussed in relation to the evolution of the Equidae.

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