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The heterochromatic B chromosome of maize: the segments affecting recombination

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Abstract

The B chromosome of maize is known to increase recombination in specific regions of the genome. In an attempt to determine the portion of the B responsible for crossover enhancement, translocations between the B and A chromosomes were used to dissect the B into four distinct segments. The effects of the segments on crossing over were studied in a sensitive region composed of chromatin from chromosomes 3 and 9. The relatively euchromatic chromomeres terminating the B lacked enhancement activity, but the remaining segments, all of which possess large amounts of heterochromatin, were capable of elevating recombination. There was no localization of activity to a specific heterochromatic region, however.

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Ward, E.J. The heterochromatic B chromosome of maize: the segments affecting recombination. Chromosoma 43, 177–186 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00483377

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