Origin and significance of centric fusions in domestic sheep.

The karyotypes of 731 sheep of various breeds were studied and considered in association with previous chromosome studies of domestic sheep. A high incidence of the t2 trnslocation was found in two pedigree flocks of New Zealand Romney sheep. One of these flocks was established over 100 years ago and it is suggested that this translocation originated in the Romney Marsh breed of sheep in England.