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Synthesis of Messenger RNA on the Polytene Chromosomes of Dipteran Salivary Gland

Nature volume 200, pages 494–495 (1963)Cite this article

Abstract

As is generally accepted, each somatic cell in the multi-cellular organism contains the same molecules of DNA bearing a complete set of genetic information for the individual. However, the cells in the organism are by no means the same in their form and function but are differentiated into various specific ones. In order to explain the origin of the cell diversities, we might assume that, in a specific cell, specific regions of the DNA molecules are activated to produce specific RNA's which transmit the codes of the corresponding portion of the DNA to the protein-synthesizing system in the cytoplasm, while remaining portions of the DNA chains the codes of which are not required for the cell are masked or inactivated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology,

    S. FUJITA

  2. Institute of Biology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi, Kyoto

    K. TAKAMOTO

Authors
  1. S. FUJITA
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  2. K. TAKAMOTO
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FUJITA, S., TAKAMOTO, K. Synthesis of Messenger RNA on the Polytene Chromosomes of Dipteran Salivary Gland. Nature 200, 494–495 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/200494a0

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