Abstract
THAT meiosis in Periplaneta americana is characterized by the absence of any visible chiasma has already been reported by Morse1 and Suomalainen2. However, this absence of visible chiasmata with the consequent parallel disposition of the homologues in the bivalents from the zygotene to the pro-metaphase I, in this species, differs from that in coccids3 and dragon-flies4, but resembles Callimantis5 inasmuch as the meiosis is pre-reductional. A thorough examination of the chromosomes during the prophase of the first meiotic division reveals that this anomalous type of meiosis is closely related to the persistence of the single thread of each homologue right from the leptotene to the pro-metaphase, and it is only during the pro-metaphase stage, which is of a little longer duration than usual, that the latter is duplicated. In fact there is very little difference between the bivalents at the late zygotene and those at the early pro-metaphase, and it is the orientation of the bivalents at the metaphase plate which results in the regular segregation (pre-reduction) during anaphase of the first division. Thus, like Callimantis, the diplotene and diakinesis which are of practically universal occurrence in the typical pre-reduction meiosis are altogether absent in this species.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Morse, Max, Arch. Zellforsch., 3, 483 (1909).
Suomalainen, E., Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn., 4, 1 (1946).
Hughes-Schrader, S., “Adv. Genet.”, 2, 127 (1948).
Federley, H., Soc. Scient. Fennicae, Comm. Biol., 9, 1 (1945).
Hughes-Schrader, S., J. Morph., 73, 111 (1943).
Darlington, C. D., “Recent Advances in Cytology” (J. and A. Churchill, Ltd., London, 1932).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SHARMA, G., PARSHAD, R. & SEHGAL, P. Meiosis without Chiasmata in Periplaneta americana. Nature 178, 1004–1005 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1038/1781004b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1781004b0
This article is cited by
-
Chromosome behaviour in diploid and tetraploid cells of sphodromantis gastrica and its bearing on chromosome evolution in the mantids
Chromosoma (1965)
-
Meiosis in the Male Periplaneta americana
Nature (1963)
-
Chromosome structure in Periplaneta americana
Heredity (1960)
-
Cytological analysis of the male meiosis inPeriplaneta americana
Journal of Genetics (1959)
-
Bivalent Structure in Periplaneta americana
Nature (1957)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.