Some Aspects of Chromosome Structure and Functions

✍ Scribed by J. T. Epplen, A. Epplen-Haupt (auth.), R. C. Sobit, G. Obe, R. S. Athwal (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 238
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

It was at the end of the 19th century that a Swiss biologist, Karl Nageli first proposed the existence of hereditary organelles that carried information from parent to offspring. Ensuing decades experienced vigorous studies that led to the development of discovery that chromosomes are indeed the carriers of genetic information. Subsequent studies, especially by Morgan and Bridges, established unequivocally the chromosome theory of inheritance. Today, the structure of chromosome is well established. At the physical level, eukaryotic chromosomes are composed of a single, linear, double helix of DNA. The elementary helical structure involves nucleosomes, comprised of histones around which the DNA is wrapped. A hierarchy of higher order of chromosomal architecture may possibly be responsible for the regulation of gene helical structures expression. The localized condensations of DNA constitute chromomeres. Uncoiled structures sometimes extending from chromomeres, which form loops, is the result of discontinuities in the regular coiling of the DNA in the chromosome.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-x
Aspects of Tandemly Organized, Repetitive Sequences in Chromosomal DNA....Pages 1-10
Mapping and Organization of Highly-Repeated Sequences by Means of Fluorescence in situ Hybridization Against Synaptonemal Complex-Associated Chromatin of Rye....Pages 11-16
Some Insights on the Mechanism of in situ DNA Digestion by Restriction Enzymes and on Fluorochrome Banding: Case of the Argentata group....Pages 17-26
Structural Differences of Chromosomes in Plants Detected by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization Using Probes of rDNA, Arabidopsis -type Telomere Sequence Repeats and pCrT7-4....Pages 27-35
Planococcus citri (Homoptera, Coccoidea): A Paradigmatic Case of Chromosome Structure as an Epigenetic Way to Control Gene Expression....Pages 37-45
Cytogenetic and Molecular Analysis of Heterochromatic Areas in the Holocentric Chromosomes of Different Aphid Species....Pages 47-56
Translocation Frequencies for X and Y Chromosomes Predicted by Computer Simulations of Nuclear Structure....Pages 57-71
Evolution of DNA Repair Mechanisms....Pages 73-88
Cytogenetics of Lepidopteran Insects....Pages 89-101
Chromosome Structure in Fishes....Pages 103-108
A Review of Chromosome Banding in Fishes....Pages 109-122
Chromosomes in Birds....Pages 123-132
Chromosomal Analysis in Human Population Monitoring....Pages 133-148
Genotoxic Investigations on Occupationally Exposed Cattle Yard Workers....Pages 149-155
Telomeres, Telomerase and Cancer....Pages 157-165
Chromosomal Radiosensitivity as an Indicator of Genetic Predisposition to Breast Cancer....Pages 167-176
Molecular Genetics of Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers....Pages 177-192
Molecular Pathogenesis of Lung Cancer....Pages 193-205
Bladder Cancer: Genetic and Epidemiological Factors Involved in its Genesis....Pages 207-224
Molecular Genetics of Prostate Cancer....Pages 225-235
Back Matter....Pages 237-238

✦ Subjects

Human Genetics; Life Sciences, general