GENOME SIZE AND CHROMOSOMES IN MARINE SPONGES [SUBERITES-DOMUNCULA, GEODIA-CYDONIUM]

The genome size of the marine sponges Suberites domuncula and Geodia c ydonium has been determined by flow cytofluorometric analysis using di amidino-phenylindole [DAPI]. Using human lymphocytes as reference the amount of DNA in cells from S. domuncula has been determined to be 3.7 pg and that of G. cydonium 3.3 pg. While no chromosomes could be iden tified in G. cydonium, the karyotype of the Suberites domuncula is 32 chromsomes in the diploid state. The size of the chromosomes was betwe en 0.25 and 1.0 mu m. No pronounced banding pattern was visible.