The functional units of macronuclear assortment inTetrahymena thermophila

Abstract

SUMMARYMacronuclei assorting simultaneously forH, Chx, Mpr, andco, and containing only one or two copies of theHDallele produced several combinations of phenotypes at the other loci, instead of only one or two such combinations. It follows that macronuclear subnuclei, if they exist at all, must frequently exchange parts. Models involving somatic recombination, transient subnuclei, or progressive chromosome fragmentation are discussed as possible explanations.