Abstract
In the genus Lathyrus the divergence and evolution of species was accompanied by large scale changes in nuclear DNA amount. All the species are diploids with 14 chromosomes so that the DNA changes were the result of amplification or deletion of segments within chromosomes. Our evidence indicates that the quantitative changes involve mainly the repetitive, as distinct from the non-repetitive fraction of the chromosomal DNA and, on a cytological basis, mainly heterochromatin in contrast to euchromatin. There is an element of discontinuity in the distribution of DNA amounts among species which suggests that the DNA variation results from a series of separate, spasmodic events. The discontinuities may be viewed, also, as “steady states” from the standpoint of genetic balance and biological fitness.
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Narayan, R.K.J., Rees, H. Nuclear DNA variation in Lathyrus . Chromosoma 54, 141–154 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292836
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292836