G- and R-banding comparison of sheep (Ovis aries L.) chromosomes.

G- and R-banded chromosomes of 14 Gentile di Puglia sheep (Ovis aries L., 2n = 54) from southern Italy were compared at the 450-band level (ISCNDA, 1989). GTG-, GBG-, RBG-, and RBA-banding techniques were employed on slides obtained from blood cell cultures that had incorporated BrdU either early or late in the replication cycle. The banding comparison improved the characterization of sheep chromosomes and allowed the construction of G- and R-banded idiograms using only one common banding nomenclature. Detailed descriptions of some disputed chromosomes are reported.