Chromosomal evolution in a haploid frog cell line: Implications for the origin of karyotypic variants

ICR 2A, a haploid cell line derived from Rana pipiens embryos, has remained haploid in number of chromosomes and their relative lengths and centromere positions for 500 cell generations. After this time, two new haryotypes appeared; relative length measurements indicate that the first has a translocation from chromosome 4 to 6, the second translocations from 3 and 4 to 6 and 7. The single exchange karyotype is not a precursor for the double exchange according to a statistical analysis. The double exchange karyotype characterized 90% of some cultures although a selective advantage could not be demonstrated for these cells. The observations suggest that a non-clonal or multicellular origin may account for these karyotypic variants.