Preservation of Bulk Chromatin With Decrease in Number of Chromosomes in Cells of an Established Bovine Kidney Line2

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Abstract
The modal number of chromosomes in cells of the permanent bovine kidney line of Madin and Darby (MDBK) was found to be 52 as compared to 60 in primary lines. Concomitantly, the number of arms was reduced only by one, from 62 to 61. The latter number is apparently derived from at least one of 7 combinations of the species' characteristic telocentric autosomes and newly appearing chromosomes with inserted centromeres. Minute, heterochromatic chromosomes, commonly an index of reciprocal translocation between acrocentric chromosomes resulting in mediocentric chromosomes, were not evident. This instance of Robertsonian-like variation appearing in vitro favors an interpretation of direct fusion of apparently truly telocentric chromosomes in cattle.