A STUDY OF CHROMOSOME ENDS IN SALIVARY GLAND NUCLEI OF DROSOPHILA

¹ Department of Zoology, Columbia University, New York

In order to obtain further insight into the nature of chromosome ends, the phenomenon of terminal adhesions in salivary gland chromosomes was studied.

Salivary gland chromosomes involved interminal adhesions were stretched with the needles of a micromanipulator until the ends broke apart. No case was found in which the ends had gained or lost a band.

From determining which chromosomes were involved most frequently in adhesions, it is concluded that the frequency with which any two chromosome ends adhere together is non-random, differs in different strains, is subject to change over a period of time, is not affected by the genotype of the cytoplasm nor temperature. However, the total incidence of adhesion is affected by temperature.

Intercalary regions associated with chromosome ends were found to be non-random.

A foreign chromosome end introduced into a strain demonstrates that the specificities shown in terminal adhesions are characteristics of the end itself, and reveals potential abilities of ends which are not realized under normal conditions.

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