Gene localization and syntenic mapping by FISH in the dog.

To begin development of a canine gene map and to define syntenic regions between the canine and human genomes, the technique of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was adapted to localize specific DNA sequences in canine metaphases. Genomic clones of canine origin as well as human yeast artificial chromosome clones were used to map canine loci. The immunoglobulin heavy-chain region was localized to canine chromosome 4qtel; the canine major histocompatibility locus, DLA, was found to be on chromosome 12qtel. Of particular interest, the canine X chromosome, which morphologically is highly similar to the human X, also showed syntenic localization of the clotting factor VIII (F8C) and factor IX (F9) genes to Xq28 and Xq26.3-->q27.1, respectively.