• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to test the validity of the hypothesis that the karyotypes of four species of Lepilemuridae were formed spontaneously from their ancestral hybrid karyotype. Hypothetical ancestral haploid Karyotype of Lepilemuridae is composed of 18 autosomes and X chromosomes. Lepilemur mustelinus karyotype has four tandem fused chromosomes and one Robertsonian translocated chromosome pairs. Lepilemur septentrionalis septentrionalis karyotype has only two pairs of translocated chromosomes. We reconstruct and suggest ancestral karyotype of LMU(ancLMU) and LSS(ancLSS), from which all four studied species were derived. Hybrids of ancLMU and ancLSS were formed and produce differently fused equilibrated gametes via circular form arrangement during gametogenesis. Five unit of trivalent homologous chromosome pairs were engaged in a circular form to give new gamete corresponding to the karyotype of L. dorsalis, orientation of one unit of trivalent was inversed in the circle to gave new gamete corresponding to the karyotype of L. leucopus. Seven homologous chromosome pairs were engaged in circular form to give haploid karyotype of Lepilemur ruficaudatus. Only one homologous chromosome pair is dissociated and the other chromosome pairs rearranged in the circle to form haploid karyotype of Lepilemur edwardsi. The new gametes could be produced from these circular forms. When the new gamete fertilized with the same type of gamete, The new homozygote is produced as existing L. dorsalis, L. leucopus, L. edwardsi and L. ruficaudatus. These results support the theory that new species could be formed in hybrid population through activated chromosome fusion, chromosome rearrangement in circular from at zygotene stage and production of equilibrated gametes to form homozygote new species.