Studies of Rearrangements Involving Heterochromatin in Drosophila melanogaster : l. A Proof of the Variegated-Type Position Effect at the White Locus. II. A Study of the Heterochromatin of Chromosome IV

Author: Judd, Burke Haycock

Year: 1954

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Lewis, Edward B.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Biology

DOI: 10.7907/4F9F-MV78

Abstract

NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document.

The X-IV translocation, [...], is shown to contain the wild-type allele, [...], at the white locus. This [...] has been replaced with a mutant gene, w, and a comparison of R([...])/w with R(w)/w[...] shows the former to give a variegated white phenotype while the latter is completely wild-type. It is concluded that the white variegation is due to an instability in the action of [...] when it is located in the rearranged chromosome.

Cold temperature enhances variegation particularly when applied during the embryonic stages of development. A less sensitive period is found to exist during the pupal stages. These facts indicate the white gene is active during more than a single period of development.

Twelve duplication-deficiency types have been obtained by combining the left and right parts of four X-IV translocations. Tests for survival of these combinations in the haplo-IV condition give somewhat contradictory results. These results are discussed and a possible order for the fourth chromosome translocation breaks is given.

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