GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SELECTED FRESHWATER FISH SPECIES ENDEMIC TO INDIAN REGION OF THE INDO-BURMA BIODIVERSITY HOT-SPOT USING ADVANCED CYTOGENETIC MARKERS
North-east India is unique in providing a profusion of habitats, which features diverse biota with a high level of endemism (Chatterjee et al., 2006). The rivers of Manipur (NE state) belong to two entirely different drainage systems i.e. the Chindwin-Irrawaddy and Barak-Brahmaputra. A total of 38 species, belonging to 22 genera under 13 families, were collected and identified. Live specimens were transported to the laboratory, acclimatized and kept in indoor aquariums for cytogenetic and molecular studies. Chromosomal analysis used kidney and gill cells, following the conventional hypotonic spreading method (Bertollo et al., 1978) and stained with 6% Giemsa. The slides were made permanent and photographed. Karyotyping was carried out following the rules of Levan et al., 1964. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to determine the localization of 5S and 18S rDNAs on the metaphase chromosome. Species (a), metaphase spread (b), karyotype (c), Chromomycin A3 stained (one pair NOR) metaphase spread and FISH localization with 18S rDNAs observed are as below.