Evaluation of genetic diversity

The chromosomes have held the interest of geneticists since 19th century, when it was revealed that chromosomes were the vehicles of heredity material from generations to generations. The genetic material in all species is located in these specific structures termed chromosomes. Each species possess a distinguishing karyotype poised of a definite number of individual chromosomes having constant shape and size. The cytogenetic characterization will, therefore, provide the genomic array of the genetic material. Study of chromosomes by karyotyping is gaining importance. Microsatellite based data has helped in assessment of diversity it can be a valuable tool in biodiversity analysis. The use of microsatellite markers in the non-coding regions of genomic DNA and their polymorphism is visualized. The techniques of Cytogenetics and more recently of molecular genetics, have been used widely to characterize and explore the basis of their heredity. New methodologies are emerging, in particular those of molecular genetics and Cytogenetics.