Report on the progress of standardization of the G-banded canine (Canis familiaris) karyotype

Karyotyping of dog chromosomes is a difficult task owing to the high diploid number of chromosomes (2n=78) and the similar morphology of autosomes, all of which are acrocentrics. In this report 22 of the 39 G-banded chromosome pairs and their corresponding ideograms have been standardized. The ideogram comprises altogether 235 bands. The need for the introduction of molecular techniques such as chromosome painting and physical mapping of genetic markers for the identification of small acrocentrics is discussed.