Chromosomal polymorphism caused by supernumerary chromosomes inRattus rattus ssp.frugivurus (Rafinesque, 1814) (Rodentia,Muridae)

Summary A chromosomal numeric polymorphism 2n=38, 39, 40 and 41 in the speciesRattus rattus ssp.frugivurus (Rafinesque, 1814) is reported for the first time for this subspecies. The numbers 2n=39, 40 and 41 are new for the species. The polymorphism is due to the presence of 1, 2 or 3 B-chromosomes, which are all small metacentrics of the size and shaped very close to the other autosomes of the normal complement, and whose character of being supernumeraries is shown in Meiosis.     

Ontogenic development and anatomical distribution of a supernumerary limb-inducing factor

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This work was supported by a Rackham Grant from the University of Michigan.     

Ring chromosomes and leukaemia

Summary The observation of 2 leukaemic patients with ring chromosomes, and their comparison with a few previously reported cases, suggests a close association between this rare chromosomal abnormality and erythroleukaemia and indicate a poor prognostic significance of this finding.     

Ring chromosomes and leukaemia.

The observation of 2 leukaemic patients with ring chromosomes, and their comparison with a few previously reported cases, suggests a close association between this rare chromosomal abnormality and erythroleukaemia and indicate a poor prognostic significance of this finding.     

Structural correspondence between nucleolus- and sphere-organizing regions of the lampbrush chromosomes and secondary constrictions of the mitotic chromosomes

Riassunto Le regioni nucleolo-e sfera-organizzatrici dei «lampbrush chromosomes» diTriturus alpestris apuanus corrispondono a costrizioni secondarie presenti sui rispettivi cromosomi mitotici. Questo dato ripropone l'interesse per lo studio dell'origine e del significato delle sfere negli ovociti in accrescimento.

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With financial support by C.N.R., Rome.     

Taste responsiveness of the transplanted supernumerary leg in the fleshflySarcophaga bullata

Summary Ectopic legs were produced on the abdomen of the fleshflySarcophaga bullata by transplantation of prothoracic leg imaginal discs. Stimulation of the tarsal chemoreceptors of these ectopic legs with sucrose solution resulted in the extension of the host proboscis indicating the functional connectivity of the sensory axons.Supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.I appreciate the technical assistance of John Geibel, Paul Nitishin and Roger Smith.     

Parasites and molecular biology

The Editors wish to thank Prof. Thomas Seebeck for coordinating this multi-author review     

Association of human satellited chromosomes

Résumé On présente ici les résultats de l'examen de trois cents cellules humaines métaphasées afin de démontrer que dans le karyotype humain, tous les acrocentriques ont une part active dans l'association des satellites. Les chromosomes acrocentriques homologues aussi bien que les chromosomes acrocentriques non-homologues laissent voir ce phénomène avec des fréquences relativement hautes.

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Acknowledgments: I would like to thank Mr. B. McLaverty for helping with the chromosome preparations.     

Action of diphenylhydantoin on chromosomes

The effect of diphenyl hydantoin, (DPH) a nonbarbituate anticonvulsant drug, on chromosomes and fertility was tested in cultured human lymphocytes, mouse fertility, and rat maternal marrow chromosomes and fetal development. Whole human blood from 5 male and 5 female subjects was cultured for 68 hours with phytohemagglutinin, then incubated for 2 hours in isotonic salts with .05-.3 mg per ml DPH, .02 mcg per ml colchicine, or .4 mg per ml sodium diethylbarbiturate. The mean number of metaphases per 1000 stimulated cells was 10.0 in controls, 40.3 with colchicine, 27.9 with diethylbarbiturate, and 30.5 with .25 mg DPH per ml. Both diphenylbarbiturate and DPH produced linear dose effect curves. These results were demonstrated not to be due to urea, since there were no differences in urea content, with a 2 hour urease micromethod. Mouse fertility was totally inhibited in 6 virgin mice given .1mg DPH daily for 10 days compared to 41 pups both of 6 control mice. In 6 pregnant rats given 25 mg DPH per 100 gm/orally 4 times daily for 2 days on gestation Days 7 and 8, there were 5 rats with all fetuses resorbed and 1 rat with 3 living and several resorptions. 6 controls had 6-14 normal fetuses each. 50 metaphase plates from each rat's femoral marrow and each fetus were examined 2 hous after injecting .3 mg colchicine per 100 gm. 30% of the metaphase cells from treated females and fetuses showed strongly contracted chromosomes and reduced number os "pulverized" chromosomes. These phenomena may have been due to inhibition by DPH of folic acid metabolism which is involved in purine synthesis.     

Induction of uncoiled chromosomes by vibration

Summary Chromatin condensation during metaphase can be removed by simple vibration of metaphase cells prior to fixation. Uncoiled chromosome arms consist of long threads with dense regions at irregular distances each from the other.Acknowledgment. This work is supported by the Hellenic Anticancer Institute.