DIFFERENTIAL GIEMSA STAINING OF THE TELOMERES OF ALLIUM CEPA CHROMOSOMES: OBSERVATIONS RELATED TO CHROMOSOME PAIRING

Abstract

We have used a Giemsa staining technique, which is thought to indicate the site of repetitive DNA and constitutive heterochromatin, to stain the telomeres of Allium cepa chromosomes differentially. These differentially stained telomeres are equally visible throughout the mitotic cycle including interphase. We observed fusions of telomeres that included both homologous and non-homologous associations. Evidence that repetitive DNA plays a role in chromosome pairing is presented.