Some Aspects of Chromosome Structure and Function

Obe G. Sobti R.C.

ISBN 10: 0792370570 / ISBN 13: 9780792370574

Published by Springer, 2002

About this Item

pp. x + 238.

Seller Inventory # 182173804

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Some Aspects of Chromosome Structure and Function
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792370570
• ISBN 13: 9780792370574
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

It was at the end of the 19th century that a Swiss biologist, Karl Nageli first proposed the existence of hereditary organelles that carried information from parent to offspring. Ensuing decades experienced vigorous studies that led to the development of discovery that chromosomes are indeed the carriers of genetic information. Subsequent studies, especially by Morgan and Bridges, established unequivocally the chromosome theory of inheritance. Today, the structure of chromosome is well established. At the physical level, eukaryotic chromosomes are composed of a single, linear, double helix of DNA. The elementary helical structure involves nucleosomes, comprised of histones around which the DNA is wrapped. A hierarchy of higher order of chromosomal architecture may possibly be responsible for the regulation of gene helical structures expression. The localized condensations of DNA constitute chromomeres. Uncoiled structures sometimes extending from chromomeres, which form loops, is the result of discontinuities in the regular coiling of the DNA in the chromosome.

Synopsis

This volume is a compilation of twenty articles written by scientists from different parts of the world dealing with various aspects of repetitive sequences in chromosomes, telomeric sequences and their maintenance by telomerase, chromatin structure and gene activation, centrometric complexity in holocentric chromosomes, translocation frequencies in X and Y chromosomes and evolution of DNA repair mechanisms, cytogenetics of certain groups of animals viz. lepidoptera, fishes and birds, and radiosensitivity as an indicator of predisposition to breast cancer. The molecular genetics of various cancers viz., gastrointestinal, lung, prostate, and bladder is also discussed.