Alterations to chromosomes are considered important in speciation (the process by which new species are formed). In a new paper in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution , researchers from the University of Konstanz, Harvard University and La Sapienza University of Rome study wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) from several islands in the Aeolian archipelago off the coast of Sicily, Southern Italy. Their findings provide empirical support to the idea that a specific type of large-scale chromosomal rearrangements called "Robertsonian (Rb) fusions" play an active role in speciation.
Read the full story on the website of the University of Konstanz at: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/university/news-and-media/current-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-in-detail/chromosomale-artbildung-bei-wildlebenden-hausmaeusen/
Facts:
###
Note to editors:
You can download a photo here: https://cms.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2020/Bilder/chromosonale.JPG
Caption: View of part of the Aeolian Archipelago.
Image: Dr Paolo Franchini
Contact:
University of Konstanz
Communications and Marketing
Phone: +49 151 27671919
Email: julia.wandt@uni.kn
uni.kn/en
Molecular Biology and Evolution