High resolution chromosome banding in the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus

High resolution banded chromosomes were prepared from a synchronized culture of rat fibroblasts. A maximum of 457 bands per haploid chromosome set were observed. This represents a two-fold increase when compared to the number of bands visualized in mid-metaphases using standard procedures. By reference to both G- and Q-banded karyotypes, we constructed improved idiograms of rat chromosomes at 300- and 400-band stages, respectively.