Minute fragment observed in a bovine pedigree with Robertsonian translocation

A minute fragment was found in the metaphase plates obtained from one Holstein bull carrying Robertsonian translocation. The pedigree investigation indicated that three out of 34 offspring had the same minute fragment as their sire. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies with bovine satellite DNA revealed that the minute fragment was hybridized with this DNA and was part of the bovine centromere. We propose that the minute fragment is the product of centric fusion and is transmitted to offspring without being lost in the subsequent cell divisions.