Journal of Genetics最新文献

{"title":"Correction to: Assessment of the contribution of <i>VDR</i> and <i>VDBP/GC</i> genes in the pathogenesis of celiac disease.","authors":"Pratibha Banerjee, Harinder Singh, Priyanka Tiwari, Ajit Sood, Vandana Midha, Gursewak Singh, B K Thelma, Sabyasachi Senapati","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping and gene cloning of a wheat mutant <i>dsc</i> with dwarf and compacted spikes.","authors":"Ying Xue, Junchang Li, Yumei Jiang, Yongjing Ni, Zhiheng Liang, Peipei Zhang, Ting Wang, Ziping Yao, Jiaqi Wang, Qiaoyun Li, Jishan Niu","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant height and spikelet density are two important traits for wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) yield. The development of wheat mutants not only provides new genetic resources for wheat improvement but also facilitates our understanding of the molecular regulation of these traits. Previously, we obtained a mutant named dwarf and spike compactness (<i>dsc</i>) from wheat cultivar Guomai301 (wild type, WT) treated with ethyl methane sulphonate. This study investigates the heredity, mutated gene location, and the candidate gene of <i>dsc</i>. Highresolution chromosome painting analysis indicated that there were no visible structural variations in the mutant <i>dsc</i>. Genetic analysis indicated that the phenotype of dsc was controlled by a single dominant gene, named as <i>dsc</i>. The wheat 660 K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker assay were employed to map the mutated gene. A total of 984 SNPs were identified between the DNA bulks, among which, 492 SNPs were located on chromosome 5A in 580-680 Mb genomic region, which occupied 50% of the total SNPs. The gene <i>dsc</i> was mapped in a 33.4 Mb (625.7-659.1 Mb) region on chromosome arm 5AL, flanked by SSR markers <i>Xbarc319</i> and <i>Xgpw2136</i>, where <i>5AQ</i> is located. Sequences and expression patterns of <i>5AQ</i> from WTand dsc were compared. The two <i>5AQ</i>s had a SNP (G>A) in the <i>miR172</i> binding site. A dCAPS marker was developed based on the SNP, and the marker was cosegregated with the mutated phenotypes in a F_2:3 population derived from the cross <i>dsc</i> x Chinese Spring (CS). This result demonstrated that the gene <i>5AQ</i> was the mutated gene of <i>dsc</i>. The expression levels of <i>5AQ</i> were significantly higher in roots, stems, leaves and spikes of mutant <i>dsc</i> than those in WT. Our results demonstrated that point mutation in the <i>miR172</i> binding site of the <i>5AQ</i> likely increased its transcript level via a reduction in miRNA-dependent degradation, and this resulted in pleiotropic effects on spikelet density and plant height. Obviously, <i>miR172</i>-<i>Q</i> was a key regulation module for wheat growth and spike development. The dCAPS marker could be used to detect the elite allele of <i>Q</i> in wheat breeding. Regulation of <i>miR172</i>-<i>Q</i> module might be an approach for wheat yield breeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>CT2</i> is involved in yield-related traits and cell proliferation of maize.","authors":"Yong Shi, Ran Xue, Qi Zheng, Zhanyong Guo, Chen Wang, Lanjie Zheng, Yankun Li, Jianping Yang, Weihuan Jin, Jihua Tang, Xu Zheng","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heterotrimeric G-proteins are multifunctional modulators that participate in a wide range of growth and developmental processes in eukaryotic species, including yeast, plants, and animals. In this study, we characterized a maize mutant, <i>ct2</i>, that showed a compact architecture and reproductive-organ-related phenotypic variation. Heredity analysis indicated that the mutant phenotypes resulted from monogenic inheritance. The target gene, <i>CT2</i>, was cloned using bulked segregant analysis and map-based cloning. Sequence alignment showed that the <i>ct2</i> mutation was the result of a 185-bp sequence insertion at the 3' terminal of <i>CT2</i>. Protein structure prediction and phylogenetic analysis indicated that CT2 is a canonical Gɑ of monocotyledonous plants. Through phenotypic identification, we found that <i>CT2</i> was involved in yield-related traits in maize. Furthermore, our findings indicated that <i>CT2</i> promotes cell proliferation in stem internodes, which may result from the upregulation of zeatin biosynthesis by <i>CT2</i>. This research provides direction for further studies in the biological function of <i>CT2</i> in cell proliferation and in yield-related traits, which will be beneficial for maize breeding through screening and application of beneficial alleles.</p>","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144642756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neurospora <i>fmf-1</i>: lure and lore.","authors":"Durgadas P Kasbekar","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The &lt;i&gt;Neurospora crassa fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; mutant has a unique phenotype. It arrests sexual development when the fruiting bodies (perithecia) attain only 40% of their normal diameter, regardless of whether the mutant participates in a cross with the wild type (&lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; x &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;) as the male or female parent. I first learnt about &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; when this journal invited me to review '&lt;i&gt;The Neurospora compendium: chromosomal loci&lt;/i&gt;' by D. D. Perkins, A. Radford and M. S. Sachs (&lt;i&gt;J. Genet.&lt;/i&gt; 80: 53-54, 2001). The compendium also informed me that the first Neurospora genetic map was published here (&lt;i&gt;J. Genet.&lt;/i&gt; 32, 243-256, 1936). The mutant was discovered and characterized by T. E. Johnson, who also localized the mutation to a chromosome 1 segment that spanned more than 3.3 Mb DNA (&lt;i&gt;Genetics&lt;/i&gt; 92, 1107-1120, 1979). The second &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; paper came 30 years later from my laboratory. We mapped the mutation to a single base pair, a T:A to A:T transversion mutation, and thus identified the altered gene (&lt;i&gt;J. Genet.&lt;/i&gt; 88: 33-39, 2009). To map &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt;, we leveraged our expertise in making strains bearing chromosome segment duplications. The &lt;i&gt;Dp&lt;/i&gt; strains were generated in crosses of the wild type with translocation strains (&lt;i&gt;WT&lt;/i&gt; x &lt;i&gt;T&lt;/i&gt;). A translocation transfers a segment of one chromosome into another. Mapping with &lt;i&gt;Dp&lt;/i&gt;s localized &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; to a 330 kbp segment. Conventional mapping with crossovers and selection against noncrossovers subsequently localized it to a 33 kbp segment. This interval was small enough to pick up the mutation by sequencing its DNA. The Fmf-1 protein activates genes required for mating pheromone signalling. The &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; male gametes (conidia) fail to secrete the pheromone that attracts receptors on the &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; female sexual structures (protoperithecia). Conversely, &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; protoperithecia do not express the cognate receptor for the pheromone from the &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; conidia. Consequently, the &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; x &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; cross fails to fertilize protoperithecia and arrests their maturation into perithecia. Genetic mapping, especially &lt;i&gt;Dp&lt;/i&gt; mapping, fails to impress many nongeneticists these days. How do &lt;i&gt;WT&lt;/i&gt; x &lt;i&gt;T&lt;/i&gt; crosses produce &lt;i&gt;Dp&lt;/i&gt; progeny? Why are &lt;i&gt;Dp&lt;/i&gt;s and crossovers even needed? Why select against noncrossovers? Why not just sequence the genomes of the wild type and mutant, identify genes whose DNA is altered in the mutant, and then test them one by one? Many forget that DNA sequencing, especially of 'hard to access' centromeric sequences, was not as easy and inexpensive then. Isolating &lt;i&gt;fmf-1&lt;/i&gt; offered us the possibility of enriching for RIP-defective mutants. RIP is a mutational process that occurs during a sexual cross and induces multiple G:C to A:T transition mutations in all copies of any DNA sequences duplicated in the otherwise haploid Neurospora genome. It is the most mutagenic p","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143440839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic analysis in a consanguineous MCPH family revealed a refinement of the MCPH12 locus and a founder effect of the recurrent <i>CDK6</i> variant [c.589G>A, p.(Ala197Thr)] in the Pakistani population.","authors":"Muzammil Ahmad Khan, Jasmin Blatterer, Markus Kuster, Lukas Kaufmann, Peter M Kroisel, John B Vincent, Bibi Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Muzammal, Nisar Ahmad, Shakil Abbas, Wasim Shah, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, Muhammad Sajid Hussain, Holger Thiele, Peter Nurnberg, Klaus Wagner, Christian Windpassinger","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Primary microcephaly (MCPH) is an autosomal recessive condition of reduced head circumference due to a small cerebral cortex. Genetic studies have reported 30 MCPH genes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the genetic mapping of the MCPH gene mutation is involved in primary microcephaly. For genetic mapping, whole exome and Sanger sequencing were performed. In this study, we identified a homozygous missense mutation, NM_001259.8:c.589G[A, p.(Ala197Thr) of <i>CDK6</i> in a consanguineous MCPH family. Since the identification of <i>CDK6</i> as a candidate gene for MCPH, this is the first report of an additional family mapping to the MCPH12locus. Molecular-genetic analysis of both families revealed an overlapping homozygous region harbouring the causal mutation in <i>CDK6</i> and a common haplotype, which led to a significant reduction of the critical MCPH12 locus. Our results suggest a founder effect of c.589G[A, p.(Ala197Thr) in the Pakistani population.</p>","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144835311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics of the MAPK gene family in <i>Zizania latifolia</i> and <i>MAPK3</i> role in response to fungal pathogen infection.","authors":"Lijun Xu, Pengfei Guo, Yong Kuang, Ke Su, Keling Hu, Defang Gan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The stems of <i>Zizania latifolia</i>, an important vegetable in China, are targeted by the pathogen <i>Ustilago esculenta</i>, triggering a response through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway. To investigate the characteristics and the role of MAPK gene family in the biological stress response, a bioinformatics-based analysis was performed, and the expression patterns of <i>ZlMPKs</i> and MAPK-infection pathway-related genes were detected in male plants inoculated with <i>U. esculenta</i>. Twenty-five <i>ZlMPK genes</i> were identified and divided into four subgroups A, B, C and D: carried a conserved TEY motif, while D had a conserved TDY motif. The <i>ZlMPKs</i> were located in the nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplast, mitochondria, and peroxisome, and most exhibited evidence of gene duplication events. The relative expression of most <i>ZlMPKs</i> was the highest at 3 h after inoculation with <i>U. esculenta</i>, with 21 <i>ZlMPKs</i> being upregulated and four being downregulated. Additionally, nine of 11 MAPK-infection pathway-related genes were upregulated at 3 h after inoculation. <i>ZlMPK3</i> was cloned and transformed into <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>, and two overexpression lines were identified by resistance screening and molecular detection. Their responses to <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> infection were studied. The leaf inoculation sites of <i>ZlMPK3</i>-overexpression plants revealed damage, while those of wild-type plants did not. The relative expression of MAPK pathogen related genes was altered after inoculation. Specifically, the expression levels of the ethylene biosynthetic pathway gene <i>AtACS6</i> and five cysteine-rich secretory protein <i>CAP</i> genes were significantly upregulated, while those of systemic acquired resistance marker gene, pathogenesis-related 1 <i>AtPR1</i> and early defense signalling gene <i>AtFRK1</i> were significantly downregulated, indicating that resistance to <i>B. cinerea</i> was weakened in the <i>ZlMPK3</i>-overexpression lines.</p>","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145015563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative analysis of the mitochondrial genome of whip scorpion, <i>Typopeltis sinensis</i> (Butler, 1872) (Arachnida: Thelyphonidae) with phylogenetic implication.","authors":"Hongyi Liu, Wei Xu, Gaoji Zhang, Renkang Li, Yan Li, Xiaowen Li, Xiaxi Jia","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The complete mitogenome of the common Chinese whip scorpion, <i>Typopeltis sinensis</i> (Butler, 1872) was sequenced and compared with another Uropygid mitogenome of <i>Mastigoproctus giganteus</i> (Lucas, 1835). Structural divergences include the absence of one tRNA-Leu and strand inversions in four protein coding genes (PCGs). All PCGs showed K_a/K_s ratios-1, which indicates purifying selection, with COI (0.04) evolving the most conservatively and ATP8 (0.65) accumulating the highest nonsynonymous substitutions. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on 602-bp COI sequences from seven species indicates that <i>T. sinensis</i> is most closely related to <i>T. stimpsonii</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145015597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maternal effect on the inheritance of pericarp colour and grain dimension in rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.).","authors":"Sakthi Anand Muthazhagu Kuppuraj, Yoglakshmi Chokkalingam, Karthick Jothiganapathy, Vengadessan Vedachalam, Deepak Singh Bisht, Sarvamangala Cholin, Thirumeni Saminadane","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to understand the maternal influence on the inheritance of pericarp colour and grain dimensions in rice, serving as a model for maternal effects in plants. Four crosses, namely Kalarata (red pericarp) x DRR Dhan 58 (white pericarp), DRR Dhan 58 x Kalarata, Kalarata x Pusa 44 (white pericarp), and Pusa 44 x Kalarata, were attempted and their F₁, F₂ and F₃ seeds were analysed. All F₁ seeds of all crosses exhibited the pericarp colour of their corresponding maternal parent, confirming a strong maternal influence. In subsequent generations, F₂ seeds uniformly exhibited red pericarp colour across all crosses, thus reinforcing the influence of maternal genotype on inheritance. However, F₃ seeds were segregated into 9 red: 3 medium red: 4 white, suggesting digenic recessive epistasis (supplementary gene action). Phenotypic assessments indicated nuclear inheritance with maternal effects, while genotypic analysis using gene-based markers revealed polymorphisms at 'Rc' locus and monomorphism at 'Rd' locus, indicating the presence of specific genetic factors in the parental materials used in the study. Additionally, analysis of the grain L/B ratio revealed a similar trend to pericarp colour inheritance, with direct maternal genetic effects in F₁ seeds, consistent uniformity in F₂ seeds and continuous variation in F₃ seeds across all crosses. Welch's test comparisons of L/B ratios suggested a significant maternal impact, particularly in F₃ and F₂ generations, with paternal influence remaining consistent across generations. Deviations in the L/B ratios in certain F₃ segregants suggest environmental influences on grain development. These findings contribute to the understanding of maternal effects in plants and have important implications for rice breeding. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to the relatively unexplored field of maternal effects in plant genetics.</p>","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143440836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The <i>sev-Gal4</i> driver in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> does not express in the eight pairs of dorsomedial and some other neurons in larval ventral ganglia: a correction.","authors":"Vanshika Kaushik, Subhash C Lakhotia","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The <i>sev-Gal4</i> driver is widely used in <i>Drosophila</i> to express the target gene in specific subsets of cells in ommatidial units of the developing eye. A 2015 report (Ray and Lakhotia, <i>J. Genet.</i> 94, 407-416) from our laboratory claimed that besides the eye disc cells, the <i>sev-Gal4</i> (Bloomington stock 5793) also expresses in eight pairs of dorsomedial neurons and some other cells in larval and early pupal ventral ganglia. The current study reveals that this claim was incorrect since the <i>UAS-GFP</i> transgene in Bloomington stock 1521 used as a reporter in the 2015 study expresses in the eight pairs of dorsomedial neurons and some other cells in larval and early pupal ventral ganglia even in undriven condition. The <i>UAS-eGFP</i> reporter in the BL-5431 stock, however, does not express in these ganglia, neither in undriven nor in <i>sev-Gal4</i> driven condition. This was also confirmed by the G-TRACE cell lineage study. Present results suggest that only four dorsalmidline cells in the ventral ganglia and a cluster of cells in the central region of the brain hemisphere, besides the earlier known cells in the eye disc and optic lobe of the brain, express the sev-Gal4 transgene in the stock 5793. The essentiality of examining the undriven expression of a transgene cannot be over-emphasized.</p>","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143440869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A fine balancer: commemorating 40 years of the <i>Journal of Genetics</i>'s revival.","authors":"Durgadas P Kasbekar","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The &lt;i&gt;Journal of Genetics&lt;/i&gt;, started by William Bateson in 1910, played a distinguished role in the early years of genetics. However, it stopped publishing in 1978. The Indian Academy of Sciences revived it in 1985, and has published it regularly since then. To commemorate this landmark, I highlight one of the 17 articles published that year. '&lt;i&gt;The isolation and genetic analysis of a Caenorhabditis elegans… X-chromosome balancer&lt;/i&gt;' by András Fodor and Péter Deak, of the Institute of Genetics, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary. More than the 43 citations garnered by the article, including one as recently as 2023 (&lt;i&gt;Genome Res&lt;/i&gt;. 33, 154-167, 2023), my choice was driven by my friendship with Péter Deak. We overlapped in our postdoctoral years. Additionally, András Fodor was a visiting scientist in TIFR, Mumbai, in 1979/80. &lt;b&gt;What are balancers?&lt;/b&gt; Drosophila geneticists routinely use balancer chromosomes to suppress crossover. Balancers are chromosomes with inversions. Consider the diploid progenitor cell of eggs or sperm with one chromosome of normal sequence, and the other, its inversion homologue. Crossover in the 'heterozygous' segment generates chromosomes with complementary duplications and deletions of segments outside the inversion. These produce genic imbalances in the gametes and inviable progeny. Additionally, balancers are dominantly marked to easily identify individuals that bear them, and they carry one or more recessive lethal mutations to eliminate balancer-homozygotes, that might otherwise be indistinguishable from heterozygotes. &lt;b&gt;Self-crosses versus out-crosses.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Caenorhabditis elegans&lt;/i&gt; is a free-living soil nematode that feeds on bacteria. Individual nematodes are either self-fertilizing hermaphrodites or males. Both have five pairs of autosomes. Additionally, hermaphrodites have two X chromosomes (XX) but males only one (XO). Hermaphrodites produce both sperm and oocytes, and their fusion produces self-cross progeny. The fraction of heterozygous genome is halved in each successive self-cross. Males mate with hermaphrodites, and fertilization of eggs by male-derived sperm generates out-cross progeny. &lt;b&gt;Isolation and analysis.&lt;/b&gt; Fodor and Deak crossed hermaphrodites homozygous for chr. X markers &lt;i&gt;dpy-8&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;unc-3&lt;/i&gt; with males hemizygous for &lt;i&gt;lon-2&lt;/i&gt;. F&lt;sub&gt;0&lt;/sub&gt; hermaphrodite progeny from the out-cross have a wild-type phenotype (WT). They were picked, mutagenized with X-rays, and allowed to self-cross. Individual WT hermaphrodite progeny (F&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;) were transferred to plates to produce self-cross lines (F&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, F&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;, and F&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;). Most lines segregated the parental 'Lon' and 'Dpy Unc' type progeny as well as recombinant 'Dpy' and 'Unc' types. But one line (of 105) did not yield any recombinant types. It carried a newly induced X chromosome inversion (marked by &lt;i&gt;lon-2&lt;/i&gt;) that suppressed crossover in the &lt;i&gt;dpy-8-","PeriodicalId":15907,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Genetics","volume":"104 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144333253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}