END-TO-END, CHAIN-LIKE ASSOCIATIONS OF PAIRED PACHYTENE CHROMOSOMES OF CREPIS CAPILLARIS

Abstract

Studies on the pachytene stage of meiosis of Crepis capillaris showed that the paired chromosomes are attached end-to-end forming chain-like configurations. The arrangements of the chromosomes in these tandem associations are according to the expectations based on the somatogram of this species. These observations make it very likely that the end-to-end chromosome associations present in all somatic interphase cells (Wagenaar, 1969) have their primary significance in the recognition and pairing of homologous chromosomes during early meiotic prophase.