C-band polymorphisms of chromosome 9: quantification by Ce-bands.

C-band polymorphisms of chromosome 1 can be quantified by Ce bands visualized using oblique epi-illumination. In this paper the polymorphic region of chromosome 9, including variants such as 9qh+, inversions, and translocations, was analyzed in a total of 1860 chromosomes from 20 individuals and 8 fetuses. In this sample we found between zero and five Ce bands on 9q and between zero and four Ce bands on 9p with a maximum of five Ce bands per chromosome. On the basis of these observations at least 19 different polymorphic patterns can be expected theoretically, 15 of which were observed in our sample. Among these, five polymorphic Ce-band classes were distinguishable by the method presented. Considering both homologues, 5(2) = 25 quantitatively discernible chromosome 9 pairs may exist.