Karyotype Analysis of Channa punctatus (Pisces) Using Restriction Endonucleases

Abstract

Restriction endonucleases have been shown to digest fixed fish chromosomes, inducing specific and reproducible banding pattern. In the present paper the chromosome complements of the snakehead, Channa punctatus, were examined using restriction endonucleases like Eco RI, Hind III, Hinf I and Alu I. Among them Hind III and Hinf I are capable of producing G band like longitudinal bands. The results indicate a possible role of restriction endonucleases as a tool for cytogenetic characterization of fishes.