GENOMIC FUNCTION DURING THE LAMPBRUSH CHROMOSOME STAGE OF AMPHIBIAN OÖGENESIS

Abstract
About 2.2% by mass of the lampbrush-stage oocyte RNA is template-active RNA. This RNA is synthesized during the lampbrush stage through the activity of about 2.7% of the genome. It is retained throughout oogenesis and is present in the mature oocyte. A maturity of the oocyte contains about 47 m/ig of this type of RNA, which is almost 3,900 x the mass of the chromosomal DNA. At least 60% of this RNA is the product of the genes which are active during the mid-lampbrush stage.