Molecular cloning and relationship of highly repetitive Hind III sequences in three cyprinid species: silver carp, bighead carp and grass carp

Abstract

The genomes of three cyprinid species, silver carp, bighead carp and grass carp, all contain highly repetitive Hind III sequences. There are two types of repeated sequences found in the genome of bighead carp but only one type of repeated sequence found in the genomes of silver carp and grass carp. Their lengths are from 186 to 201 bp. These sequences are arranged tandemly in the genomes. Their copy numbers are about 3.65 x 10(5) per haploid genome and total contents are about 5% of the genomes. The Hind III repetitive sequences of silver carp, bighead carp and grass carp are very similar to one another but completely different from those known repetitive DNAs of common carp, tilapia, pollock and salmon.