Digital Commons Network^™

Solving Complex Problems: Exploration And Control Of Complex Systems, Joachim Funke

Joachim Funke

Abnormal Chromatin (Abc), A Maternal-Effect Locus In Drosophila Melanogaster, Kristin B. Vessey, Rachael L. Ludwiczak, Amy S. Briot, Eileen M. Underwood

Eileen M. Underwood

Mutations in the maternal-effect gene abnormal chromatin (abc) in Drosophila melanogaster result in a variety of defects involving nuclear replication/division. Three recessive alleles of this gene, which maps near 51F on chromosome 2, all result in female sterility. They cause slower embryonic development that is usually abnormal from the earliest nuclear divisions and arrested by the sixth one. Nuclei tend to be large and erratically distributed, some intensely staining. Mitotic asynchrony is common. Few embryos reach the gastrula stage and none hatch. With the weakest allele, fsPL, bridges between nuclei are common; abnormal chromatin clumps that resemble yolk nuclei occur …