title: Ciona genetics.
abstract: Ascidians, such as Ciona, are invertebrate chordates with simple embryonic body plans and small, relatively non-redundant genomes. Ciona genetics is in its infancy compared to many other model systems, but it provides a powerful method for studying this important vertebrate outgroup. Here we give basic methods for genetic analysis of Ciona, including protocols for controlled crosses both by natural spawning and by the surgical isolation of gametes; the identification and propagation of mutant lines; and strategies for positional cloning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. veeman@lifesci.ucsb.edu
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Veeman
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005821:Genetic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D014561:Urochordata / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004247:DNA