Robertsonian karyotype variation in wild house mice from Rhaeto-Lombardia

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Abstract
The European longtailed house mouse (Mus musculus brevirostris and M. m. domesticus) in the Rhaetian Alps and Lombardia presents a complex system of Robertsonian (Rb) variation and karyotype diversity, several adjoining populations homozygous for multiple Rb metacentric chromosomes, sites of coexistence of different Rb types and zones of hybridization with non-Rb populations. The original tobacco mouse is just one of many local Rb variants, such as those from other Alpine areas (e.g., Orobian Alps) or from Central Lombardia, where a relatively large region within which the population is homogeneous for multi-Rb metacentrics is found. The present study is based strictly on material in which the chromosome arms were identified by G-banding, so that karyotypes within the areas under investigation could be compared. Altogether 111 mice were studied.