Genome size in birds

Nuclear DNA amounts of twenty-three species of birds from seventeen families of seven orders were determined by Feulgen cytophotometry. Genome size is constant in these birds, the ratio between the largest and smallest genome in the sample is 1.3 to 1. The modal diploid DNA amount for birds is about 3.6 picograms, slightly higher than previously reported. The data point towards an evolutionary control of genome size regardless of chromosome number. Birds represent an example of a group in which reduction of genome size is correlated with active speciation.