Abstract
BACKGROUND: The history of comparative chromosome mapping is briefly reviewed, with discussion about the problem that occurs in chromosome painting when size heteromorphisms between homologues cause contamination in chromosomes sorted by flow cytometry that are used in the preparation of chromosome-specific DNA probes. MAIN BODY: As an example, we show in the alpaca (Vicagna pacos) that sequencing of contaminated chromosome sorts can reveal chromosome homologies from alignment with human and mouse genome reference sequences. The procedure identifies syntenic blocks of DNA separated in the human karyotype that are associated in the closely related alpaca and dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) karyotypes. This example provides proof of principal for the validity of the method for comparative chromosome mapping. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the approach presented here may have application in the construction of comparative chromosome maps between distantly related taxa, such as monotremes and mammals.