Contents

#### **Preface XI**


Preface

The classical definition of cytogenetics presented in Merriam-Webster, as employed since 1930, is "a branch of biology that deals with the study of heredity and variation by the meth‐ ods of both cytology and genetics." The medical definition of cytogenetics includes the study of chromosomes, which are the visible carriers of heredity material. Taken together, these definitions convert cytogenetics into a fusion science joining cytology, the study of the

*Cytogenetics - Past, Present, and Further Perspectives* discusses events that influenced the de‐ velopment of cytogenetics as a specialty within biology, with special attention paid to meth‐ odological achievements developed worldwide that have driven the field forward. Improvements to the resolution of chromosome analysis followed closely the introduction of innovative analytical technologies. In that sense, this book reviews and provides a brief ac‐ count of the structure of chromosomes and stresses the high structural conservation in dif‐ ferent species with an emphasis on aspects that require further research. However, it should be kept in mind that the future of cytogenetics will likely depend on improved knowledge

This book is organized into eight chapters and begins with an overview of cytogenetic meth‐ ods employed to analyze homoeological chromosomes in cereals. There is special emphasis on the study of polyploid wheats and their progenitors, and on tandem repeats and retro‐ transposons as biomarkers to evaluate chromosome reorganization throughout the history of evolution and breeding. Chapter 2 provides a detailed karyotyping investigation of six‐ teen oak species belonging to three sections within the genera *Quercus* L. and includes a comparison between Turkish and European oaks. Chapter 3 describes several karyotypes and cytochrome b (cytb) gene sequences of seven species of *Epinephelus* grouper fish in order to facilitate future genetic breeding investigations. These include *Epinephelus coioides, E. fla‐ vocaeruleus*, *E. fuscoguttatus*, *E. lanceolatus*, *E. polyphekadion, E. tukula*, and *Plectropomus leopar‐ dus*. Chapter 4 focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of applying both morphological and phylogenetic tools in cytogenetic studies by investigating the structuralfunctional organization of macro- and microkaryotypes. This information helps one to better understand the genetic structures, evolution, and systematics of the richest and most diverse Neotropical fish groups. Chapter 5 presents a complete study of chromosomal characteris‐ tics in different common bat genera found in the Russian Far East and neighboring regions that improves the accuracy of the chromosome characteristics for 17 out of 18 valid species found in this region so far. Chapter 6 comprehensively analyses available global data on the epidemiology of Robertsonian translocations, the most common structural chromosomal re‐ arrangements in humans. The information presented will allow future studies to resolve multiple unanswered questions, for example, the nature of female preponderance among

cells, with genetics, the study of inherited variation.

of chromosome structure and function.
