Multicellular eukaryotes and single-celled sex cells reproduce by a process called meiosis. In this process, the number of chromosomes in a mother cell is halved to produce gametes, cells that fuse with other cells. This happens in plants, animals, and fungi. German biologist, Oscar Hertwig first discovered meiosis in sea urchin eggs in 1876.
The present understanding of genomic stability and variability is mostly based on a few model species, leaving the scope and generality of these discoveries uncertain.
Researchers from the Universities of Leicester and Nottingham have been awarded nearly £600,000 to investigate how sexual development and gene shuffling inside the malaria parasite can help regulate malaria transmission.
The majority of chromosomes have existed for millions of years.
During meiosis, reshuffling of genetic information between homologous chromosomes through meiotic recombination creates variable gametes and hence genetic variation in offsprings.
A new method, DNA End tailing and sequencing (DEtail-seq), for meiotic DNA double-strand break (DSB) profiling was developed recently.
Iowa State University researchers may have solved a long-standing challenge associated with accelerated development of pure genetic lines.
Meiotic drivers, which are a sort of selfish gene, are, in fact, selfish. They are found in nearly all species’ genomes, including humans, and unfairly convey their genetic information to more than half of their offspring, resulting in infertility and impaired organism health.
The Prussian carp is considered one of the most successful invasive fish species in Europe. Its ability to reproduce asexually gives it a major advantage over competing fish.
It cakes our cars in yellow powder every spring and taunts allergy sufferers for months on end, but pollen is more than just plant sperm.
A new analysis has uncovered a potential link between higher prostate cancer risk and genetic variants associated with higher bloodstream levels of the cholesterol-transporting molecule lipoprotein A.
The world’s first CRISPR-Cas9 genetic editing-based strategy to regulate inheritance in mammals was declared nearly three years ago.
Global provider of human and animal biospecimens - AMSBIO offers a custom procurement service enabling researchers to source specific biofluid and tissue samples which are not already available in their extensive biorepository.
Scientists from the John Innes Centre have identified a gene that has deep-rooted effects on seed production in wheat.
Inside the nuclei of cells, the genome is tightly organized (packaged). This three-dimensional (3D) genome organization is basic because it controls gene expression.
Dr. HAN Fangpu's group from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reports the identification and functional study of the maize Knl1 gene in an article published online in PNAS.
The sex chromosomes genetically define the developmental fate of an embryo to become a male or a female individual, and usually, appear as one pair of morphologically different chromosomes between sexes.
Skoltech's evolutionary biologists discovered recombination in bdelloid rotifers, microscopic freshwater invertebrates, which have long been regarded as 'an evolutionary scandal' due to their presumed ancient asexuality.
AZoLifeSciences speaks to Dr. Terry Hasssold about his latest research into oocytes and how imperfect egg cells are more common than scientists initially thought.
It can be hard to dispute the common adage 'survival of the fittest'. After all, "most of the genes in the genome are there because they're doing something good," says Sarah Zanders, PhD, assistant investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research
The Y chromosome, which is relatively smaller than its counterpart, the X chromosome, has significantly reduced in size across 200 million years of evolution.