Clinostatic rotation decreases crossover frequencies in the fungus Sordaria macrospora Auersw.
Two-factor crosses between the non-allelic spore colour mutants r2 and lu of the fungus Sordaria macrospora were used to investigate the effect of clinostatic rotation (= simulated weightlessness) on crossover frequencies. The experiment was carried out with different rotary directions at a rotary rate of 4 rpm. Second-division segregations of the gene lu, which result from crossover between the gene locus and centromere, are significantly smaller in the clinostat experiments than in the static controls.  No differences were found between the two rotary directions. A similar influence of clinostatic rotation was not observed for the gene r2 which in contrast to the lu locus is located very close to the centromere. The suitability of this approach for the investigation of the effect of space flight conditions on cytogenetic processes is pointed out.
Henkel
J
J
Max-Planck-Institut fur Biochemie, Abt. Sanger, Martinsried, Germany.
Hock
B
B
D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003434:Crossing Over, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003582:Cytogenetics; D004867:Equipment Design; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006112:Gravitation; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012399:Rotation; D020037:Sordariales / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation