Genetic analysis based on mitotic recombination

Pontecorvo, G. and Kafer, E. (1958) Genetic analysis based on mitotic recombination. Advances in Genetics, 9, pp. 71-104. (doi: 10.1016/S0065-2660(08)60160-1)

Abstract

This chapter illustrates that formal genetic analysis by means of mitotic recombination is perfectly feasible. It leads to the identification of linkage groups, of the order of genes, and of their distances, though in units, it is different from those of meiotic analysis. In aspergillus nidulans, which has a sexual cycle and in which the results of genetic analysis based on meiosis are available, mitotic mapping has been compared with, and helped by, meiotic mapping. But in other similar organisms, such as aspergillus niger, in which a sexual cycle is unknown, mitotic recombination is the only means available so far toward formal genetic analysis and breeding for scientific or applied purposes. The possibility of applying mitotic analysis to somatic tissues of higher organisms, better if in tissue cultures, is clearly at hand. Even if somatic crossing-over were not of widespread occurrence, the analysis could at least identify linkage groups making use of breakdowns of mitosis, similar to the haploidization described in the chapter, which are known to occur as rare accidents in higher organisms. The principles of mitotic analysis expounded in the chapter are clearly adaptable, with minor modifications, to a wide variety of special cases.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Guido Pontecorvo (1907-1999) was the University of Glasgow's first Professor of Genetics, a post that he held from 1955 to 1968.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: UNSPECIFIED
• Authors: Pontecorvo, G., and Kafer, E.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Advances in Genetics
• ISSN: 0065-2660
• ISSN (Online): 0065-2679
• Published Online: 10 April 2008