Summary
Kinetin, a substance recently isolated from DNA preparations, produced polyploidy and various forms of pycnosis in meristematic cells of growing onion roots.
Non-toxic concentrations of the substance changed the mean durations of mitosis and interphase as well as the relative durations of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase in onion root tip cells. It was inferred that the time of the mitotic period was increased, while the duration of interphase was decreased by addition of kinetin to the medium.
The phenomena observed are interpreted to be due to (a) a trigger action of kinetin some time during interphase, resulting in premature prophase initiation, and (b) effects of kinetin on the coiling cycle of the chromosomes.
It is suggested that the activity of kinetin may in some way be associated with the RNA metabolism of the nucleus.
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Guttman, R. Effects of kinetin on cell division, with special reference to initiation and duration of mitosis. Chromosoma 8, 341–350 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01259506
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01259506