What determines whether chromosomes segregate reductionally or equationally in meiosis?
Normal meiosis consists of a single round of DNA replication followed by two nuclear divisions. In the 1st division the chromosomes segregate reductionally whereas in the 2nd division they segregate equationally (as they do in mitosis). In certain yeast mutants, a single-division meiosis takes place, in which some chromosomes segregate reductionally while others divide equationally. This autonomous segregation behaviour of individual chromosomes on a common spindle is determined by the centromeres they carry. The relationship between reductional segregation of a pair of chromosomes and their earlier recombinational history is also discussed.
Simchen
G
G
Department of Genetics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
Hugerat
Y
Y
D002503:Centromere; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D008540:Meiosis; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D008941:Spindle Apparatus