Brazilian Birds

Brazilian-Kentish collaborations continue apace with 4 publications on bird chromosomes, principally led by Dr. Rafael Kretschmer from in time in GriffinLab. In the first paper (DOI: 10.3390/cells10040826) we performed studies focusing on microchromosomes in species belonging to four different bird orders (Caprimulgiformes (hummingbirds and nightjars), Piciformes (woodpeckers), Suliformes (boobies, gannets and cormorants), and Trogoniformes (trogons and quetzels)) to shed more light on third genome evolution. Results suggest that the ancestral microchromosomal syntenies are conserved in Piciformes and Trogoniformes. However, fusions involving both macro- and microchromosomes were found in Suliformes and Caprimulgiformes, revealing that the microchromosomes can be dynamic in bird genomes. The second paper (DOI: 10.3390/ani11051456) revealed different aspects of genomic organization and evolution of the Saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola), a semi-domestic species, tolerant of human proximity and nesting in roof spaces. Results revealed a typical avian karyotype i, with just one interchromosomal change, the fission of the avian ancestral chromosome 1. The third paper (Doi: 10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2020-0241) analyzed the karyotype of the Spot-flanked gallinule (Gallinula melanops) to understand chromosome evolution and phylogeny of the group Gruiformes (cranes, coots etc). Based on our results, phylogenetic inference was discussed . In the fourth paper (DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01768-y) we studied the karyotype organization of Xingu scale-backed antbird (Willisornis vidua (Passeriformes)). Our results reveal multiple chromosomal rearrangements despite having an apparently conserved karyotype.