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Surface spreading of synaptonemal complexes in locusts

II. Zygotene pairing behaviour

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Abstract

The patterns of meiotic pairing initiation and progression in Locusta migratoria and Schistocerca gregaria are described from observations on surface-spread zygotene stage nuclei. In both species pairing is initiated from proximal and distal chromosomal ends, but in addition some interstitial points of pairing initiation also occur, particularly in the longer chromosomes. The details of pairing behaviour are to some extent variable and characteristic for the different species and different chromosomes. There is a pronounced length-dependent sequence of pairing among chromosomes which is especially marked in Locusta: the shorter chromosomes commence and finish pairing relatively early. The patterns of pairing initiation and chiasma formation, in both species, show some similarities but they do not correspond closely. The implications of these findings for the regulation of chiasma number and position are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Birmingham, P.O. Box 363, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK

    G. H. Jones & J. A. Croft

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  1. G. H. Jones
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  2. J. A. Croft
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Jones, G.H., Croft, J.A. Surface spreading of synaptonemal complexes in locusts. Chromosoma 93, 489–495 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386789

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386789

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