About the Primate Cytogenetics NetworkThe Primate Cytogenetics Network was launched on the World Wide Web on 28 April 1995. The purpose of this project is to provide a central source for collecting, digitizing, and distributing information on primate cytogenetics. Primate karyotypes, ideograms, images, and a reference database are provided for studies in comparative cytogenetics, primate conservation, and taxonomy. The Primate Cytogenetics Network is administered by Tim Knight at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, USA.
The Origin of the Primate Cytogenetics NetworkIn 1994, I conducted an extensive literature search on primate cytogenetics through the Primate Information Center (University of Washington Regional Primate Research Center, Seattle, Washington). This search covered primate cytogenetics publications from 1940 to 1994. I was especially interested in knowing which species of primates had variable diploid numbers, since I had found a partial listing of primate diploid numbers in Primate Species of the World by Napier and Napier. For example, the de Brazza monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) from Africa had three different diploid numbers reported: 2n=58,60,62. This did not make sense to me since I thought that a single species would have the same diploid number in all normal animals. I also heard reports about species of South American primates where the males have one less chromosome than the female due to the Y chromosome being fused with an autosome - so I wanted to verify these reports.While spending many hours searching for published karyotypes at the University of Washington Libraries, I found that many books and journals were not available and I could not get a good photocopy of most karyotypes. I also found that is also difficult to get quality reprints of old journal articles and copies of dissertations. I did find the Primate Chromosome Atlas by Kurt Benirschke and T.C. Hsu that was very helpful, but since this is an early publication, most of the karyotypes were unbanded and therefore of limited use in comparative cytogenetic studies. I thought that the solution to this problem would be to build a digital database of primate karyotypes, but I didn't know what program to use or how to distribute the information. In the summer of 1994, I starting exploring the internet using Mosaic for quickly searching and retrieving all sorts of information including pictures and text. This was the type of network and software I was looking for to develop a central database for collecting and distributing karyotypes, ideograms, and references worldwide. I began learning the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) in the fall of 1994 and starting developing the Primate Cytogenetics Network in my spare time. I began on-line testing of an early version of this network on 28 April 1995. The Primate Cytogenetics Network is in the second phase of development, so you will only find a few karyotypes and ideograms available. However, you will find an extensive list of primate diploid numbers and many references on primate cytogenetics. If you are interested in contributing to this network or have any suggestions about improving the information that is provided, please send e-mail to Tim Knight. Thank you for visiting the Primate Cytogenetics Network.
Tim Knight
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Primate Cytogenetics Network