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Variations in rat liver chromatin composition during growth and the heterotic response

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Abstract

The manifestation of hybrid vigor with regard to the inheritance of body weight was established as a postweaning phenomenon in rats. Liver weight gain generally corresponded to body weight gain and also reflected hybrid vigor. The protein/DNA ratios of the chromatin from livers of inbred and heterotic hybrid male rats were found to increase with increasing age in growing rats. Hybrid chromatin had higher protein/DNA ratios throughout the age range studies. The difference between hybrids and inbreds were greatest in the early postweaning stages of growth and maturation. The RNA/DNA ratios of chromatin from livers of inbred and hybrid male rats were also found to exhibit trends within certain developmental periods.

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This investigation was supported by matching Federal and West Virginia State funds from the Hatch 190 grant and is published with the approval of the Director of the Agricultural Station as Scientific Paper No. 1293.

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Naso, R.B., Baker, F.T., Kaczmarczyk, W. et al. Variations in rat liver chromatin composition during growth and the heterotic response. Biochem Genet 14, 281–292 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00484767

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00484767

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