Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Karyotype, DNA replication and origin of sex chromosomes in Anopheles atroparvus

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anopheles atroparvus has two pairs of autosomes similar in length and morphology and two sex chromosomes with equal, heterochromatic, late replicating long arms with homologous C-, G-, and Q-bands. The short arm of the Y is shorter than that of the X and both are euchromatic. The mean number of chiasmata per cell in the male is 3.2. During mitosis there is a high grade of somatic pairing but X and Y, which form a heteropycnotic mass in the interphase nucleus, have a differential behaviour. The chronology of DNA replication was studied in spermatogonia and brain cells by autoradiography. It is hypothesized that the present sex chromosomes of A. atroparvus evolved by accumulation of sex determining factors and gene deterioration resulting in heterochromatinization of the long arms, followed by structural rearrangements.—The homology of the two sex chromosomes requires limited dosage compensation which is achieved either as in Drosophila by modifier genes or by accumulation on the short arm of the X, only of female determining factors which do not require dosage compensation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akstein, E.: The chromosomes of Aedes aegypti and of some other species of mosquitoes. Bull. Res. Coun. Israel 11 B3, 146–155 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Avirachan, T. T., Seetharam, P. L., Chow-daiah, B. N.: Karyotype studies in Oriental anophelines. Cytologia (Tokyo) 34, 418–422 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baer, D.: Asynchronous replication of DNA in a heterochromatic set of chromosomes in Pseudococcus obscurus. Genetics 52, 275–285 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Barigozzi, C., Dolfini, S., Fraccaro, M., Rezzonico-Raimondi, G., Tiepolo, L.: In vitro study of the DNA replication patterns of somatic chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. Exp. Cell Res. 43, 231–234 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Beermann, W.: Geschlechtsbestimmung und Evolution der genetischen Y-Chromosomen bei Chironomus. Biol. Zbl. 74, 525–544 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleaver, J. E.: Thymidine metabolism and cell kinetics. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing Co. 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Diaz, G., Lewis, K. R.: Interphase chromosome arrangement in Anopheles atroparvus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 52, 27–35 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolfini, S., Courgeon, A. M., Tiepolo, L.: The cell cycle of an established line of Drosophila melanogaster cell in vitro. Experientia (Basel) 26, 1020–1021 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Farci, A., Laudani, U., Lecis, A. R.: A revision of the banding pattern of salivary chromosomes of Anopheles atroparvus (Diptera: Nematocera). Z. zool. Syst. Evolut.-Forsch. 11, 304–310 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frizzi, G.: Salivary gland chromosomes of Anopheles. Nature (Lond.) 160, 226–227 (1947a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frizzi, G.: Determinazione del sesso nel Genere Anopheles. Sci. genet. (Torino) 3, 80–88 (1947b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilchrist, B. M., Haldane, J. B. S.: Sex linkage and sex determination in a mosquito, Culex molestus. Hereditas (Lund) 33, 175–190 (1947)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitzmiller, J. B.: Mosquito cytogenetics. In: Genetics of Insects vector of disease p. 133–150. Amsterdam: Elsevier (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima de Faria, A.: Differential uptake of tritiated thymidine into hetero- and euchromatin in Melanoplus and Secale. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 6, 457–466 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, E.: Animal species and evolution. Cambridge: Harvard University. Press 1963

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, M. E., Southern, D. I., Wood, R. J.: X and Y chromosomes of Aedes aegypti (L) distinguished by Giemsa C-banding. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 41–49 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohno, S.: Sex chromosomes und sex-linked genes. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiepolo, L., Laudani, U.: DNA synthesis in polytenic chromosomes of Anopheles atroparvus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 36, 305–312 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiepolo, L., Diaz, G., Laudani, U.: Differential DNA synthesis in homologous regions of hybrid polythenic chromosomes Anopheles atroparvus X A. labranchiae. Chromosoma (Berl.) 45, 81–89 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiepolo, L., Fraccaro, M., Laudani, U., Diaz, G.: Homologous bands on the long arms of the X and Y chromosomes of Anopheles atroparvus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 371–374 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. U. Laudani

    Present address: Institute of General Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Sassari, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of General Biology, Medical Faculty, Gruppo Euratom, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini, 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    M. Fraccaro & L. Tiepolo

  2. Institute of Genetics, University of Cagliari, Italy

    U. Laudani & Annalisa Marchi

Authors
  1. M. Fraccaro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. U. Laudani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Annalisa Marchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. Tiepolo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fraccaro, M., Laudani, U., Marchi, A. et al. Karyotype, DNA replication and origin of sex chromosomes in Anopheles atroparvus . Chromosoma 55, 27–36 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288324

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288324

Keywords

Search

Navigation