Localized negative interference, some of its manifestations and biological function

Summary

The theory for high (or localized) negative interference developed byBarricelli andDoermann (1960) and tested on phage T4 data is here used to interpret data on phage λ (Amati andMeselson, 1965) andAspergillus (Pritchard, 1960). The analysis calls attention to the differences and the startling similarities between the three quite unrelated organisms with respect to this phenomenon.

The biological function of localized negative interference appears to be a reduction of recombination frequency between markers at intermediate map distances without reducing the recombination frequency at the smallest map distances where recombination approaches the minimum frequency required for an efficient crossover mechanism (calculated in the text). In avoiding separation by excessive recombination, the reduction of recombination frequency at intermediate map distances may promote the spreading of groups of linked mutant factors when they happen to be collectively but not individually advantageous to the organism.