The external promoter in the guinea pig 5S rRNA gene is different from the rodent promoter.

The guinea pig has about 100 copies of the 5S rRNA gene per haploid genome and they are present in 2.1 kb tandem repeats. Three bona fide 5S rRNA genes and four pseudo genes were sequenced.

Guinea pig (Cavio cambayo) 5S rRNA genes map to 7q2, 20q2 and 30q2 shown by an R-banded karyotype with PNA-FISH.

A karyotype for the guinea pig (Cavio cambayo) is proposed based on an R-banding pattern. R-bands were obtained by BrdU incorporation into the cells followed by a combined DAPI and propidium iodide staining of the fixed metaphase spreads. In situ hybridization was performed with two biotinylated 18-mer PNA (peptide nucleic acid) probes complementary to sequences within the 5S rRNA gene.