Meiosis in the Male Periplaneta americana

Abstract

CYTOLOGY of the common cockroach Periplaneta americana (Blattidae) dates back to 1909¹, and yet recent re-examination has not only brought to light interesting details, but also much controversy^2–8. It was therefore felt necessary to examine the locally available species of cockroaches with the view of understanding the intricacies of the problem. Absence of diplotene-diakinesis and chiasmata in meiosis in the male has been claimed and various explanations have been marshalled^2,9,10. But Lewis and John^7,8, taking into consideration all the aspects of indirect evidence, state that chiasmata might occur at the terminal ends of chromosomes and might terminalize rapidly.