Phenotypic differences between the sexes evolve largely because selection favours a different complement of traits in either sex. Theory suggests that, despite its frequency, sexual dimorphism should be generally constrained from evolving because the sexes share much of their genome. While selection can lead to adaptation in one sex, correlated responses to selection can be maladaptive in the other. In this thesis I use Drosophila to examine the extent to which the shared genome constrains the evolution of sexual dimorphism and whether the sex chromosomes might play a special role in resolving intralocus sexual conflict. Gene expression data shows that intersexual genetic correlations are generally high, suggesting that genes often affect both sexes. The intersexual genetic correlation is negatively associated with sex-bias in expression in D. melanogaster, and the rate of change in sex-bias between D. melanogaster and six closely related species, showing that a sex-specific genetic architecture is a prerequisite for the evolution of sex difference. In further studies I find that genetic variance affecting lifespan is found in the male-limited Y chromosome within a population, which could offer a route to the evolution of further sexual dimorphism in lifespan, though the amount of variance was small suggesting adaptive potential from standing genetic variance is limited. Genetic variance on the X chromosome is also expected to be depleted once the sex chromosomes evolve, but here I find no evidence of depletion in either sex. Dosage compensation does not appear to double the male X-linked genetic variance, but this effect may be complex to detect. Finally, the X chromosome appears to be enriched for sex-specific genetic variance, and the consequences of this are explored using a variety of analytical methods to test biologically meaningful aspects of G-matrix structure. In summary, this thesis suggests that the evolution of sexual dimorphism is generally constrained by the shared genome, but intralocus sexual conflict could be resolved by novel mutations on the Y chromosomes, and by standing sex-specific genetic variance on the X chromosome. It highlights a special role for the X chromosome in the evolution of sexual dimorphism.

At the core of evolutionary biology stands the study of divergence between populations and the formation of new species. This dissertation applies a diverse array of theoretical and statistical approaches to study how chromosomes evolve. In the first chapter, I build models that predict the amount of neutral genetic variation in chromosomal inversions involved in local adaptation, providing a foundation for future studies on the role of these rearrangements in population divergence. In the second chapter, I use a large dataset of the geographic variation in frequency of a chromosomal inversion to infer natural selection and non-random mating, revealing that this inversion could be implicated in strong reproductive isolation between subpopulations of a single species. In the third chapter, I use coalescent models for recombining sex chromosomes coupled with approximate Bayesian computation to estimate the recombination rate between X and Y chromosomes in European tree frogs. This novel approach allows me to infer a rate so low that would have been hard to detect with empirical methods. In the fourth chapter, I study the theoretical conditions that favor the evolution of a chromosome fusion that reduces recombination between locally adapted alleles. / text

Darbo tikslas buvo nustatyti Ternerio sindromo fenotipo ryšį su nustatyta chromosomine konstitucija ir jo įtaką šeiminei homeostazei. TS paplitimas, dažnis ir ligonių amžius diagnozavimo metu iki šiol nebuvo aprašytas mūsų tirtoje populiacijoje. KMU biologijos katedros citogenetikos laboratorijoje buvo ištirti kariotipai 1271 asmeniui, kuriam galima buvo įtarti TS: naujagimiai su įgimtomis sklaidos ydomis; mergaitės su fizinio vystymosi atsilikimais; mergaitės su brendimo atsilikimu; moterys su pirmine amenorėja; moterys su antrine amenorėja; moterys, tirtos dėl persileidimų ir nevaisingumo. Kariotipo pakitimai, būdingi TS, diagnozuoti 236 asmenims (18,6 proc.). Išskirti trys pagrindiniai kariotipo pakitimų variantai ir įvertinta, ar vienoda jų įtaka fenotipui. Tirta, ar yra skirtumas šių ligonių grupių fenotipe pagal tirtuosius parametrus: nėštumo trukmę, naujagimių kūno ilgį ir svorį, mergaičių ūgį ir svorį iki 18 metų amžiaus, tėvų amžių gimstant vaikui, sibsų amžių, paciento, kuriam įtariamas TS, amžių kariotipo tyrimo metu. Ištirta ir aprašyta keletas retų chromosomų disbalanso variantų. Nustatyta, kad monosominiai ligoniai dažniau vienintelę X chromosomą paveldi iš motinos (80,5 proc.), negu iš tėvo. Pirmą kartą atliktas šeiminis daugiaveiksniškai paveldimų požymių tyrimas (elektrokardiogramos ir gliukozės toleravimo mėginys) ne tik probandams, sergantiems TS, bet ir jų pirmosios eilės giminėms. Lietuvoje bent pusė TS atvejų lieka neatpažinti, todėl, siekiant kuo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this study is to evaluate the link of chromosome constitution in Turner syndrome and in disruption of familial homeostasis. The distribution and incidence of TS in population nor the age of patients at the moment of diagnosis were not described previously. Cytogenetical laboratory at the Department of biology has investigated karyotypes for 1271. The number of abnormal karyotypes found is 236 (18.6%). We divided the patients into three groups according to logical, in our opinion, changes in their karyotypes. The aim of our research was to find out, if there were significant differences in phenotypes within those groups. Such traits were chosen for the comparison: the duration of pregnancy, length and weight of newborns, height and weight of the girls under 18 years old, the age of parents at birth of propositus, the age of the siblings, and the age at which TS was diagnosed for the patient. We predicted, that in a case of complete 45,X monosomy the clinical manifestation of the syndrome should be more severe, and this group of patients would differ from other karyological groups. We have found that in 80.5% of cases X chromosome had the maternal origin and in the rest 19.5% – paternal. To investigate the multifactorially inherited traits (electrocardiograms and glucose tolerance test) in relatives of Turner syndrome patients. We suggest that for the earlier diagnosis of TS, it is reasonable to investigate all girls, whose height is less than 3rd percentile.

In the B6.YTIR mouse strain, half of the XY progeny develop bilateral ovaries and the female phenotype. These XY females are infertile mainly due to the death of their embryos. This developmental failure has been attributed to a defect intrinsic to the XY oocyte. / The present study examined the transcriptional activity of the X and Y chromosomes in these oocytes. RT-PCR results show that the Ube1y gene is transcribed in the XY ovary at all stages examined and also in growing XY oocytes. The Sry gene was transcribed only at the onset of ovarian differentiation whereas the Zfy gene was undetectable at all stages during fetal life. The Xist gene, which is involved in X inactivation, was not expressed in XY oocytes. We speculate that expression of Y-encoded genes may have a deleterious effect on the quality of the oocytes and thus renders them incompetent for post-fertilization development.

It is known that chromosomal rearrangements play an important role in speciation by limiting gene flow within and between species. Furthermore, this effect may be enhanced by involvement of sex chromosomes that are known to undergo fast evolution compared to autosomes and play a special role in speciation due to their engagement in postzygotic reproductive isolation. The work presented in this study uses various molecular-genetic and cytogenetic techniques to describe karyotype and sex chromosome evolution of two groups of Lepidoptera, namely selected representatives of the family Tortricidae and Leptidea wood white butterflies of the family Pieridae. The acquired knowledge points to unexpected evolutionary dynamics of lepidopteran karyotypes including the presence of derived neo-sex chromosome systems that originated as a result of chromosomal rearrangements. We discuss the significance of these findings for radiation and subsequent speciation of both lepidopteran groups.

Orientador: Fauto Foresti / Coorientador: José Carlos Pansonato Alves / Banca: Diego Teruo Hashimoto / Banca: Marcelo Ricardo Vicari / Banca: Orlando Moreira Filho / Banca: Claudio de Oliveira / Resumo: No presente estudo, foram analisadas dezoito espécies de peixes do gênero Characidium, C. cf. zebra, C. tenue, C. xavante, C. stigmosum, Characidium sp1, Characidium sp2, Characidium sp3, Characidium sp4, Characidium sp5, Characidium sp6, C. pterostictum, C. vestigipinne, C. rachovii, C. orientale, C. serrano, C. timbuiense, C. vidali e Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali de diferentes bacias hidrográficas brasileiras, com o uso de técnicas citogenéticas básicas (coloração com Giemsa e bandamento C) e moleculares (hibridação in situ fluorescente com sondas de DNAr 18S e 5S, DNA telomérico (TTAGGG)n e 4 sequências de microssatélites ((CA)15, (GA)15, (CG)15 e (TTA)10), e pintura cromossômica através da microdissecção e amplificação do cromossomo sexual W de C. gomesi (sonda chamada de CgW). Além disso, foi realizado o sequenciamento de DNA associado a sítios de restrição pela enzima SbfI (RAD-tags) através do sistema Illumina Genome Analyzer em machos e fêmeas de C. gomesi. Todas as espécies apresentaram número diploide de 2n=50 cromossomos, com predominância dos cromossomos dos tipos meta e submetacêntricos, além da ocorrência de cromossomos supranumerários em Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali e um par cromossômico acrocêntrico exclusivo detectado em C. pterostictum, C. serrano e C. timbuiense. Foi observada também a ocorrência de um sistema ZZ/ZW de cromossomos sexuais em distintos estágios de diferenciação em todas as espécies, com exceção de Characidium cf. zebra, C. tenue, C. xavante e C. stigmosum. A análise da heterocromatina constitutiva por bandamento C revelou a presença de heterocromatina nos cromossomos sexuais, principalmente no cromossomo W e em blocos intersticiais e/ou teloméricos nos braços longos do cromossomo Z e nos cromossomos Bs de Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali. Sequências de DNAr 5S foram localizadas em diferentes cromossomos, com variação na quantidade de sítios entre as espécies,... / Abstract: In the present study, eighteen species from the genus Characidium collected at different river basins were analyzed, including C. cf. zebra, C. tenue, C. xavante, C. stigmosum, Characidium sp1, Characidium sp2, Characidium sp3, Characidium sp4, Characidium sp5, Characidium sp6, C. pterostictum, C. vestigipinne, C. rachovii, C. orientale, C. serrano, C. timbuiense, C. vidali e Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali. The analyses involved classical (Giemsa conventional staining and C-banding) and molecular cytogenetic techniques (fluorescent in situ hybridization with ribosomal 5S and 18S, telomeric, microsatellite motifs and U2 snDNA probes, whole chromosome painting using W-specific probe obtained from C. gomesi-CgW). Besides that, DNA sequencing of restriction-associated DNA (RAD) was carried out in males and females of C. gomesi. All species showed diploid chromosome numbers of 2n=50, with karyotypes mainly composed of meta- and submetacentric types, besides the occurrence of supernumerary chromosomes in Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali and one acrocentric pair in C. pterostictum, C. serrano e C. timbuiense. Also, almost all the analyzed species showed a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system in distinct evolutionary stages, except Characidium cf. zebra, C. tenue, C. xavante e C. stigmosum. The constitutive heterochromatin was located differentially on the W chromosomes and in interstitial and telomeric position on the Z chromosomes, as well as in the B chromosomes of Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali. 5S rDNA was differentially distributed in the different species, with variations on the number of clusters per genome and position in the karyotype, while the 18S rDNA was conserved in number of sites per genome and variable in location. Conversely, the U2 snDNA distribution was conserved in a single homologous chromosome pair in all species, except in Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali and Characidium sp2. Telomeric probes revealed species with several interstitial... / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-07T17:12:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-02-27. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-06-07T17:16:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000864281.pdf: 2841286 bytes, checksum: e1b59c63f77c2d49bd85b14c3d63dde2 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / No presente estudo, foram analisadas dezoito espécies de peixes do gênero Characidium, C. cf. zebra, C. tenue, C. xavante, C. stigmosum, Characidium sp1, Characidium sp2, Characidium sp3, Characidium sp4, Characidium sp5, Characidium sp6, C. pterostictum, C. vestigipinne, C. rachovii, C. orientale, C. serrano, C. timbuiense, C. vidali e Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali de diferentes bacias hidrográficas brasileiras, com o uso de técnicas citogenéticas básicas (coloração com Giemsa e bandamento C) e moleculares (hibridação in situ fluorescente com sondas de DNAr 18S e 5S, DNA telomérico (TTAGGG)n e 4 sequências de microssatélites ((CA)15, (GA)15, (CG)15 e (TTA)10), e pintura cromossômica através da microdissecção e amplificação do cromossomo sexual W de C. gomesi (sonda chamada de CgW). Além disso, foi realizado o sequenciamento de DNA associado a sítios de restrição pela enzima SbfI (RAD-tags) através do sistema Illumina Genome Analyzer em machos e fêmeas de C. gomesi. Todas as espécies apresentaram número diploide de 2n=50 cromossomos, com predominância dos cromossomos dos tipos meta e submetacêntricos, além da ocorrência de cromossomos supranumerários em Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali e um par cromossômico acrocêntrico exclusivo detectado em C. pterostictum, C. serrano e C. timbuiense. Foi observada também a ocorrência de um sistema ZZ/ZW de cromossomos sexuais em distintos estágios de diferenciação em todas as espécies, com exceção de Characidium cf. zebra, C. tenue, C. xavante e C. stigmosum. A análise da heterocromatina constitutiva por bandamento C revelou a presença de heterocromatina nos cromossomos sexuais, principalmente no cromossomo W e em blocos intersticiais e/ou teloméricos nos braços longos do cromossomo Z e nos cromossomos Bs de Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali. Sequências de DNAr 5S foram localizadas em diferentes cromossomos, com variação na quantidade de sítios entre as espécies,... / In the present study, eighteen species from the genus Characidium collected at different river basins were analyzed, including C. cf. zebra, C. tenue, C. xavante, C. stigmosum, Characidium sp1, Characidium sp2, Characidium sp3, Characidium sp4, Characidium sp5, Characidium sp6, C. pterostictum, C. vestigipinne, C. rachovii, C. orientale, C. serrano, C. timbuiense, C. vidali e Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali. The analyses involved classical (Giemsa conventional staining and C-banding) and molecular cytogenetic techniques (fluorescent in situ hybridization with ribosomal 5S and 18S, telomeric, microsatellite motifs and U2 snDNA probes, whole chromosome painting using W-specific probe obtained from C. gomesi-CgW). Besides that, DNA sequencing of restriction-associated DNA (RAD) was carried out in males and females of C. gomesi. All species showed diploid chromosome numbers of 2n=50, with karyotypes mainly composed of meta- and submetacentric types, besides the occurrence of supernumerary chromosomes in Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali and one acrocentric pair in C. pterostictum, C. serrano e C. timbuiense. Also, almost all the analyzed species showed a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system in distinct evolutionary stages, except Characidium cf. zebra, C. tenue, C. xavante e C. stigmosum. The constitutive heterochromatin was located differentially on the W chromosomes and in interstitial and telomeric position on the Z chromosomes, as well as in the B chromosomes of Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali. 5S rDNA was differentially distributed in the different species, with variations on the number of clusters per genome and position in the karyotype, while the 18S rDNA was conserved in number of sites per genome and variable in location. Conversely, the U2 snDNA distribution was conserved in a single homologous chromosome pair in all species, except in Characidium sp. aff. C. vidali and Characidium sp2. Telomeric probes revealed species with several interstitial... / FAPESP: 10/19971-8

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-01T13:10:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-07-29. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-07-01T13:13:45Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000866048.pdf: 1772468 bytes, checksum: a3e7a4ffd79b2967e014506e0bde4ccb (MD5) / Comisión Nacional de Investigación Ciencia y Técnologia (CONICYT) / No presente trabalho, foram analisadas seis espécies/citótipos de peixes do gênero Eigenmannia, sendo E. microstoma, E. limbata, E. virescens, E. aff trilineata, Eigenmannia sp1 e Eigenmannia sp2, de diferentes bacias hidrográficas brasileiras, com o uso de técnicas citogenéticas básicas envolvendo a coloração com Giemsa e bandamento C e também técnicas de citogenética molecular, com a aplicação de hibridação in situ fluorescente (FISH) envolvendo o uso de sondas de DNAr 18S e 5S, DNA histônico H3/H4 e de RNAsn U2. Também foi estudado o comportamento meiótico e o nível de diferenciação do sistema múltiplo de cromossomos sexuais de Eigenmannia sp2 por imunodetecção de proteínas do complexo sinaptonêmico (SYCP3), proteínas relacionadas com a atividade da cromatina (H3K9me) e marcadores do tipo proteína γH2AX envolvida no reparo das quebras do DNA e associadas ao nível de pareamento dos bivalentes nos cromossomos meióticos. Finalmente, os dados da caracterização citogenética foram comparados com análises de DNA barcode para permitir uma melhor delimitação das espécies/citótipos analisados neste estudo. Os representantes analisados deste grupo confirmara a apresentação de expressiva variação no número diplóide, tendo sido observados deste cariótipos compostos por 28 cromossomos em Eigenmannia sp1 até o número diplóide de 38 cromossomos em E. microstoma, E. limbata e E. virescens. Em E. aff trilineata foi descrita pela primeira vez a ocorrência de um polimorfismo cromossômico do tipo ZZ/Z0 associado ao sexo, em que os machos apresentam cariótipos compostos por 32 cromossomos enquanto as fêmeas possuem cariótipos constituídos por 31 cromossomos. Sequências de DNAr 5S e RNAsn U2 foram localizadas em diferentes cromossomos, com variação na quantidade de sítios entre as espécies, enquanto o DNAr 18S apresentou-se conservado em relação ao número de cromossomos portadores, porém variando na... / In the present study, six species/cytotypes from de genus Eigenmannia collected at different Brazilian hydrographic basins were analyzed, including E. microstoma, E. limbata and E. virescens, E. aff trilineata, Eigenmannia sp1, and Eigenmannia sp2 using classical (Giemsa conventional staining and C-banding) and molecular cytogenetic techniques (fluorescence in situ hybridization with 5S and 18S rDNA, H3/H4 histone genes and U2 snDNA probes). Besides that, it was studied the meiotic behavior and the differentiation level of multiple sex chromosome system in Eigenmannia sp2 by immunodetection for synaptonemal complex proteins (SYCP3), proteins related to chromatin activity (H3K9me) and associated markers with the bivalent level pairing of the meiotic chromosomes (γH2AX). Finally, the cytogenetics results were analyzed in conjunction with the barcode DNA analysis for a better delineation of species/cytotypes studied. The analyzed species/cytotypes showed diploid number variation, with diploid numbers ranging from 28 chromosomes in Eigenmannia sp1 to 38 chromosomes in E. microstoma, E. limbata and E. virescens. In E. aff trilineata, for the first time, showed a ZZ/Z0 sex chromosome system, where males have karyotypes with 32 chromosomes to 31 chromosomes to females. 5S rDNA and U2 snDNA were located on different chromosomes, with variations on the number of clusters in the different species, while the 18S rDNA was conserved in number of sites per genome and variable in location. The meiotic analysis in the sex chromosomes of Eigenmannia sp2 showed a completely synaptic sexual trivalent X1X2Y formation without unsynaptics presence and inactive chromatin regions throughout its structure. These results suggest that this sex chromosomes system would be a recent rearrangement or simply it is a sex-linked character in this population. All the six species/cytotypes of Eigenmannia analyzed were easily ...

Orientador: Fausto Foresti / Coorientador: José Carlos Pansonato Alves / Banca: Orlando Moreira-Filho / Banca: Roberto Ferreira Artoni / Banca: Diogo Teruo Hashimoto / Banca: Patrícia Elda Sobrinho Scudeler / Resumo: No presente trabalho, foram analisadas seis espécies/citótipos de peixes do gênero Eigenmannia, sendo E. microstoma, E. limbata, E. virescens, E. aff trilineata, Eigenmannia sp1 e Eigenmannia sp2, de diferentes bacias hidrográficas brasileiras, com o uso de técnicas citogenéticas básicas envolvendo a coloração com Giemsa e bandamento C e também técnicas de citogenética molecular, com a aplicação de hibridação in situ fluorescente (FISH) envolvendo o uso de sondas de DNAr 18S e 5S, DNA histônico H3/H4 e de RNAsn U2. Também foi estudado o comportamento meiótico e o nível de diferenciação do sistema múltiplo de cromossomos sexuais de Eigenmannia sp2 por imunodetecção de proteínas do complexo sinaptonêmico (SYCP3), proteínas relacionadas com a atividade da cromatina (H3K9me) e marcadores do tipo proteína γH2AX envolvida no reparo das quebras do DNA e associadas ao nível de pareamento dos bivalentes nos cromossomos meióticos. Finalmente, os dados da caracterização citogenética foram comparados com análises de DNA barcode para permitir uma melhor delimitação das espécies/citótipos analisados neste estudo. Os representantes analisados deste grupo confirmara a apresentação de expressiva variação no número diplóide, tendo sido observados deste cariótipos compostos por 28 cromossomos em Eigenmannia sp1 até o número diplóide de 38 cromossomos em E. microstoma, E. limbata e E. virescens. Em E. aff trilineata foi descrita pela primeira vez a ocorrência de um polimorfismo cromossômico do tipo ZZ/Z0 associado ao sexo, em que os machos apresentam cariótipos compostos por 32 cromossomos enquanto as fêmeas possuem cariótipos constituídos por 31 cromossomos. Sequências de DNAr 5S e RNAsn U2 foram localizadas em diferentes cromossomos, com variação na quantidade de sítios entre as espécies, enquanto o DNAr 18S apresentou-se conservado em relação ao número de cromossomos portadores, porém variando na... / Abstract: In the present study, six species/cytotypes from de genus Eigenmannia collected at different Brazilian hydrographic basins were analyzed, including E. microstoma, E. limbata and E. virescens, E. aff trilineata, Eigenmannia sp1, and Eigenmannia sp2 using classical (Giemsa conventional staining and C-banding) and molecular cytogenetic techniques (fluorescence in situ hybridization with 5S and 18S rDNA, H3/H4 histone genes and U2 snDNA probes). Besides that, it was studied the meiotic behavior and the differentiation level of multiple sex chromosome system in Eigenmannia sp2 by immunodetection for synaptonemal complex proteins (SYCP3), proteins related to chromatin activity (H3K9me) and associated markers with the bivalent level pairing of the meiotic chromosomes (γH2AX). Finally, the cytogenetics results were analyzed in conjunction with the barcode DNA analysis for a better delineation of species/cytotypes studied. The analyzed species/cytotypes showed diploid number variation, with diploid numbers ranging from 28 chromosomes in Eigenmannia sp1 to 38 chromosomes in E. microstoma, E. limbata and E. virescens. In E. aff trilineata, for the first time, showed a ZZ/Z0 sex chromosome system, where males have karyotypes with 32 chromosomes to 31 chromosomes to females. 5S rDNA and U2 snDNA were located on different chromosomes, with variations on the number of clusters in the different species, while the 18S rDNA was conserved in number of sites per genome and variable in location. The meiotic analysis in the sex chromosomes of Eigenmannia sp2 showed a completely synaptic sexual trivalent X1X2Y formation without unsynaptics presence and inactive chromatin regions throughout its structure. These results suggest that this sex chromosomes system would be a recent rearrangement or simply it is a sex-linked character in this population. All the six species/cytotypes of Eigenmannia analyzed were easily ... / Doutor

Orientador: Shirlei Maria Recco-Pimentel / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T12:50:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Busin_CarmenSilvia_D.pdf: 6669737 bytes, checksum: 7a1f9be2cc98550bffd4b6b919b57406 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: A posição taxonômica, as relações filogenéticas, a sinonimização de espécies consideradas distintas, a existência de subespécies e as propostas de agrupamentos intragenéricos dos gêneros Pseudis e Lysapsus sempre foram bastante discutidas entre os herpetólogos. Os gêneros Pseudis e Lysapsus já foram considerados membros da família Pseudidae e também da subfamília de Hylidae. Recentemente, foram alocados na subfamília Hylinae como gêneros distintos. Pseudis paradoxa, P. minuta e Lysapsus limellus, já analisados citogeneticamente por outros autores, apresentam 2n=24 cromossomos e Pseudis sp. (aff. minuta), hoje confirmada citogeneticamente como a recentemente descrita P. cardosoi, apresenta 2n=28 cromossomos, com quatro pares adicionais de cromossomos telocêntricos. No presente trabalho foram analisadas, através de coloração convencional dos cromossomos, padrão de distribuição de heterocromatina, número e localização das regiões organizadoras de nucléolo (NOR), espécies do gênero Pseudis e do gênero Lysapsus, exceto L. laevis, com o objetivo de contribuir com caracteres citogenéticos para a sistemática e para os estudos de filogenia dos dois gêneros, além de buscar evidências para a compreensão dos processos envolvidos na evolução cromossômica nesses grupos. As análises citogenéticas revelaram que o complemento 2n=24 cromossomos é a condição plesiomórfica tanto no gênero Pseudis quanto no gênero Lysapsus e corroboraram a hipótese de que o cariótipo 2n=28 cromossomos tenha uma origem comum ao cariótipo 2n=24 de P. minuta, pois as bandas heterocromáticas marcadoras dos dois cariótipos não foram detectadas em nenhuma das espécies analisadas no presente trabalho. As análises da morfologia cromossômica e do padrão de distribuição de heterocromatina permitiram a separação inter- e intragenérica nos dois gêneros, exceção feita entre as subespécies Pseudis paradoxa paradoxa e P. p. platensis que apresentaram os dados citogenéticos comuns. As diferenças detectadas no padrão de distribuição de heterocromatina além de permitir a separação das espécies de Lysapsus e de Pseudis permitiu, também, sugerir uma reavaliação do status taxonômico das subespécies L. limellus limellus e L. ,. bolivianus, especialmente da população de L. I. bolivianus de Guajará-Mirim, que apresentaram diferenças na morfologia e padrão de bandamento dos cromossomos 7 e 8, também em relação às outras populações da mesma subespécie. A presença da região organizadora de nucléolo (NOR) nos braços longos dos cromossomos do par 7 é o caráter plesiomórfico tanto no gênero Pseudis como no gênero Lysapsus e a posição que a mesma ocupa ao longo do braço é um dado citogenético importante na separação das espécies de Pseudis. A morfometria cromossômica, padrão de bandamento e posição da NOR nos cromossomos 7 permitiram também verificar a presença de cromossomos sexuais heteromórficos no sistema ZZIZW em P. tocantins, com evidências de que mecanismos de inversão e de ganho de heterocromatina tenham ocasionado a diferenciação dos cromossomos Z e W / Abstract: The taxonomic position, phylogenetic relationships, synonymization of species considered to be distinct, existence of subspecies, and the proposals of intrageneric groups of the genera Pseudis and Lysapsus have always been a matter of discussion among herpetologists. The genera Pseudis and Lysapsus have already been included in the family Pseudidae and also in the subfamily Hylidae. Recently, these two genera have been allocated to the subfamily Hylinae as distinct genera. Pseudis paradoxa, P. minuta and Lysapsus limellus, cytogenetically analyzed by other investigators, show a chromosome number of 2n=24, and Pseudis sp. (aff. minuta), now cytogenetically confirmed as the recently described P. cardosoi, has 2n=28 chromosomes, including four additional pairs of telocentric chromosomes. In the present study, we analyzed the pattem of heterochromatin distribution and the number and location of the nucleolar organizer region (NOR) by conventional chromosome staining in species of the genera Pseudis and Lysapsus, except for L. laevis, in order to add cytogenetic traits to the systematics and to the study of the phylogeny of the two genera, in addition to providing evidence for the understanding of the processes involved in the chromosome evolution of these groups. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that the complement of 2n=24 chromosomes is a plesiomorphic condition both in the genus Pseudis and in the genus Lysapsus, and confirmed the hypothesis that the origin of the 2n=28 karyotype is the same as that of the 2n=24 karyotype of P. minuta since the heterochromatic marker bands in the two karyotypes were not detected in any of the species analyzed in the present study. Analysis of the chromosome morphology and the pattem of heterochromatin distribution permitted the inter- and intrageneric separation of the two genera, except for the subspecies Pseudis paradoxa paradoxa and P. p. platensis which presented common cytogenetic data. In addition to permitting the separation of Lysapsus and Pseudis species, the differences detected in the pattem of heterochromatin distribution also suggested the reassessment of the taxonomic status of the subspecies L. limellus limellus and L. I. bolivianus, especially of the L. I. bolivianus population from Guajará-Mirim, which differed in the morphology and banding pattem of chromosomes 7 and 8 in relation to the other populations of the same subspecies. The presence of the NOR on the long arms of the chromosomes of pair 7 was a plesiomorphic trait both in the genus Pseudis and in the genus Lysapsus, and the position the NOR occupies on the long arm is an important cytogenetic characteristic for the separation of Pseudis species. Chromosome morphometry, banding pattern and NOR position on chromosomes 7 also permitted the detection of heteromorphic sex chromosomes in the ZZlZW system of P. tocantins, with evidence that mechanisms of inversion and heterochromatinization caused the differentiation of the Z and W chromosomes / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural