CHROMOSOMAL DISTRIBUTION OF HUMAN SATELLITE 3 DNA DURING MEIOSIS

Abstract

In human meiotic cells DNA satellite III is located in the same sites as in mitotic cells, but in prophase the areas are less condensed. This differs from the situation in Plethodon where the sites of heavy satellite DNA are condensed throughout meiotic prophase. The difference may be ascribed to the fact that Plethodon heavy satellite is pericentrically located, whereas few if any of the human satellite sites are actually at centromeres. A 2nd difference is found in sperm, where the Plethodon satellite is located at a single site in the rear of the nucleus, while the satellite regions in man do not have a common or constant orientation, suggesting the respective satellites may well be functionally different.