Chromosomal anomalies, like Robertsonian and reciprocal translocations
represent a big problem in cattle breeding as their presence induces, in the
carrier subjects, a well documented fertility reduction. In cattle reciprocal
translocations (RCPs, a chromosome abnormality caused by an exchange of
material between nonhomologous ...»»»»
Chromosomal anomalies, like Robertsonian and reciprocal translocations
represent a big problem in cattle breeding as their presence induces, in the
carrier subjects, a well documented fertility reduction. In cattle reciprocal
translocations (RCPs, a chromosome abnormality caused by an exchange of
material between nonhomologous chromosomes) are considered rare as to
date only 19 reciprocal translocations have been described. In cattle it is
common knowledge that the Robertsonian translocations represent the most
common cytogenetic anomalies, and this is probably due to the existence of
the endemic 1;29 Robertsonian translocation. However, these considerations
are based on data obtained using techniques that are unable to identify all
reciprocal translocations and thus their frequency is clearly underestimated.
The purpose of this work is to provide a first realistic estimate of the impact of
RCPs in the cattle population studied, trying to eliminate the factors which
have caused an underestimation of their frequency so far. We performed this
work using a mathematical as well as a simulation approach and, as biological
data, we considered the cytogenetic results obtained in the last 15 years. The
results obtained show that only 16% of reciprocal translocations can be
detected using simple Giemsa techniques and consequently they could be
present in no less than 0,14% of cattle subjects, a frequency five times higher
than that shown by de novo Robertsonian translocations. This data is useful
to open a debate about the need to introduce a more efficient method to
identify RCP in cattle.^^^^
