Ref ID : 1685
Elizabeth J. Walsh; Rotifer genetics: integration of classic and modern techniques. Hydrobiologia 255/256:193-204, 1993
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Rotifer genetics has a long but sporadic history. There have been 4 major periods of research activity: (1) determining the environmental control of sexuality with inferences regarding genetics - early 1900's; (2) exploring the relationship between chromosome numbers and the rotifer life cycle - 1920's; (3) physiological and developmental genetics - 1960's; and (4) theoretical and experimental population genetics late 1970's. With newly developed molecular techniques, in conjunction with more traditional approaches, integration of these fields is beginning. Examples include investigation of gene expression involved in sexual reproduction by isolating glycoproteins responsible for mate recognition. Improvement of techniques for chromosome analysis has made it possible to verify haploidy in males and led to the discovery of polyploidy. The role of specialized proteins in the stress response is being elaborated with an accompanying search for the genetic elements which control them. Most recently the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to amplify ribosomal genes, and is a first step in using DNA sequences to define evolutionary relationships among the Rotifera.