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Symbols for Chromosome Numbers

Abstract

I AGREE with Miss Schafer1 that the use of a Greek letter for the basic chromosome number has serious disadvantages and should therefore be dropped. But I think a new symbol is necessary, to avoid the confusion which results from a resuscitation of x for this purpose. This symbol tends to be overworked, presumably because every schoolboy begins his algebra with x as the unknown quantity. In the result we have papers written on the effect of X-rays on the X-chromosome. In this case, however, no confusion results, because the two uses of X are so different.

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References

  1. NATURE, 135, 109; Jan 19, 1935.

  2. NATURE, 134, 1011; Dec. 29, 1934.

  3. “Chromosome Studies in some di“cious Plants, with special Reference to the Allosomes.” Cytologia, 1, 112; 1929.

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GATES, R. Symbols for Chromosome Numbers. Nature 135, 188–189 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/135188d0

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