Ref ID : 2101
Charles E. King; Genetics of reproduction, variation, and adaptation in rotifers. Arch.Hydrobiol.Beih. 8:187-201, 1977
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Until recently, the existence of genes in rotifers could be cited as a triumph of logical induction. Although there are numerous examples in the literature of presumed genetic effects, not the least of which is the existence of rotifers themselves, to my knowledge not one single morphological feature has ever been associated with a specific allele in this group. Perhaps, therefore, the place to start in this examination of the genetics of rotifers in with the demonstration of single gene products. Electrophoretic techniques for a number of rotifer isozymes have been developed in my laboratory. Most enzymes can be resolves on samples of from 3 to 20 individuals. Fig.1 shows a polyacrylamide gel stained for phosphoglucose isomerase, an enzyme important in glucose metabolism. Samples on this gel are from clones of Asplanchna brightwelli, A. girodi, and Brachionus calyciflorus. Most of our work to date has been with Asplanchna, but the techniques of sample preparation, storage, and analysis are adaptable to many other groups. A large literature exists on electrophoretic analyses of isozymic variation in a diverse array of plants and animals and consequently, genetic interpretation of results is usually possible with relatively little difficulty. The utility of such analyses in resolving fundamental problems in rotifer genetics will be illustrated throughout this paper.