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Centromere behavior during interphase and meiotic prophase in Allium fistulosum from 3-D, E.M. reconstruction

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Abstract

Centromeres at premeiotic interphase are clustered and situated in a small area of the nucleus opposite to the nuclear envelope associated heterochromatic masses. The centromeres may occur singly or they may associate to form a structure composed of 2 or more centromeres. Many centromere associations are nonhomologous. Interphase centromeres are not attached to the nuclear envelope. — At zygotene and pachytene centromeres are no longer clustered at one pole of the nucleus but rather are distributed throughout the nucleus. Premeiotic associations appear to be resolved prior to meiotic pairing. Only homologous centromere associations occur during zygotene and pachytene. There is no indication that premeiotic centromere associations are involved in prezygotene alignment of homologous chromosomes.

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Church, K., Moens, P.B. Centromere behavior during interphase and meiotic prophase in Allium fistulosum from 3-D, E.M. reconstruction. Chromosoma 56, 249–263 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293189

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00293189

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