Abstract
A description is given of the puffing sequences of the giant polytene chromosomes from the footpads of Sarcophaga bullata, from Day 3 to Day 12 of pupation at 25° C. The chromosome puffing patterns are seen to be very precise and to occur in orderly sequence with respect to general developmental events. Particular puffs appear or regress in a continuous, orderly sequence. A few puffs remain throughout adult development. Most are puffed for a limited time only. In several cases puffed regions appear to “move along” the chromosome, suggesting sequential activity of adjacent genetic loci. Attempts are made to correlate chromosome puffing with specific cellular activities — cell growth, the sequential secretion of six cuticular layers (determined by electron microscopy), cuticle sclerotization and melanization, and eventual cell death. Preliminary observation of thoracic trichogen cell chromosomes show interesting similarities and differences in puffing patterns, when compared with footpad sequences.
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Whitten, J.M. Coordinated development in the foot pad of the fly Sarcophaga bullata during metamorphosis: changing puffing patterns of the giant cell chromosomes. Chromosoma 26, 215–244 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326457
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00326457