In: Biology
Orangutans are an endangered species in their natural environment (the islands of Borneo and Sumatra), so a captive-breeding program has been established by using orangutans currently held in zoos around the world. One component of this program is cytogenetic research. This research has shown that orangutans from the two islands have different forms of chromosome 2. Before this cytogenetic difference became known, some matings were carried out between animals from different islands, and 14 hybrid progeny are now being raised in the breeding program.
What term/s describe the difference/s between these chromosomes?
Draw the chromosomes 2 pairing of such a hybrid individual, during the first meiotic prophase.
In 40% of meioses, there will be a crossover somewhere in the region between bands p1.1 and q1.2. Draw the chromosomes 2 gametes that would result from a meiosis in which a single crossover occurred within band q1.1.
What fraction of the gametes produced by a hybrid orangutan will give rise to viable progeny, if only these chromosomes differ between the parents?
Answer: