Abstract
Evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotes has obviously been accomplished with a substantial increase in genome size. The bacterial genome, for example, accounts for approximately 0.007 pg of DNA (1 pg = 10−12g), while haploid cells of salamanders and some plants may contain-up to 100 pg (Sparrow et al., 1972). DNA measurements in organisms of the same species have demonstrated that DNA content is constant among individuals that are chromosomally normal (Vendrely and Vendrely, 1948). Comparisons among individuals of different species have shown that phylogenetically related species have similar DNA content (Mirsky and Ris, 1951). In man, for example, the DNA content of diploid cells has been estimated to be 6 pg (Vendrely and Vendrely, 1957), and a comparison with other species has shown that the DNA content of human diploid cells is similar to that of placental mammals (Atkin et al., 1965).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Atkin, N.B., Mattison, G., Begak, W., Ohno, S.: The comparative DNA content of 19 species of placental mammals, reptiles and birds. Chromosoma (Berlin) 17, 1–10 (1965)
Bachmann, K.: Genome size in mammals. Chromosome (Berlin) 37, 85–93 (1972)
Bedi, K.S., Goldstein, D.J.: Cytophotometric factors causing apparent differences between Feulgen DNA contents of different leukocyte types. Nature (London) 251, 439–440 (1974)
Dutrillaux, B.: Sur le nature el l’origine des chromosomes humaines. Paris: L’expansion Scientifique 1975
Evans, H.J., Buckland, R.A., Sumner, A.T.: Chromosome homology and heterochromatin in goat, sheep and ox studied by banding techniques. Chromosoma (Berlin) 42, 383–402 (1973)
Hinegardner, R.: Evolution of genome size. In: Molecular evolution. Ayala, F. (ed.), pp. 179–199. Sunderland, Massachusetts. Sinauer Associated Inc. Publishers 1976
Hotta, Y., Chandley, A.C., Stern, H.: Biochemical analysis of meiosis in the male mouse. Chromosoma (Berlin) 62, 255–268 (1977)
Hotta, Y., Ito, M., Stern, H.: Synthesis of DNA during meiosis. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 56, 1184–1191 (1966)
Lima de Faria, A., German, J., Ghatnekar, M., McGovern, J., Anderson, L.: In vitro labelling of human meiotic chromosomes with H3 thymidine. Hereditas 60, 249–261 (1968)
Manfredi-Romanini, M.G.: Nuclear DNA content and area of primate limphocytes as a cytotaxonomical tool. J. Hum. Evol. 1, 23–40 (1972)
Manfredi-Romanini, M. G.: The DNA nuclear content and the evolution of vertebrates. In: Cytotaxonomy and vertebrate evolution. Chiarelli, B., Campana, E. (eds.), pp. 39–81. New York, London: Academic Press 1973
Manfredi-Romanini, M. G., Campana, E.: Contenuto in DNA nei nuclei postcinetici in due popolazioni cromosomicamente differenti di Rattus ratus, cited by Manfredi- Romanini, M.G. The DNA nuclear content and the evolution of vertebrates. In: Cytotaxonomy and vertebrate evolution. Chiarelli, B., Campana, E. (eds.), pp. 39–81. New York, London: Academic Press 1973
Mirsky, A.E., Ris, H.: The deoxyribonucleic acid content of animal cells and its evolutionary significance. J. Genet. Physiol. 34, 451–462 (1951)
Monesi, V.: Chromosome activities during meiosis and spermiogenesis. J. Reprod. Fertil. Suppl. 13, 1–14 (1971)
Seuànez, H.N., Carothers, A.D., Martin, D.E., Short, R.V.: Morphological abnormalities in the spermatozoa of man and the great apes. Nature (London) 270, 345–347 (1977)
Sparrow, A.H., Price, H.J., Underbrink, A.G.: A survey of DNA content per cell and per chromosome of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms: some evolutionary considerations. In: Evolution of genetic systems. Smith, H.H. et al. (ed.) Brookhaven Symp. Biol. 23, 451–495 (1972)
Sumner, A.T., Buckland, R.A.: Relative DNA contents of somatic nuclei of ox, sheep and goat. Chromosoma (Berlin) 57, 171–175 (1976)
Taylor, H., McMaster, R. D.: Autoradiographic and microphotometric studies of DNA during microgametogenesis in Lilium longifluorum. Chromosoma (Berlin) 6, 489–521 (1954)
Vendrely, R., Vendrely, C.: La teneur du noyau cellulaire en ADN à tra vers les organes, les individus et les espèces animals. Experientia 4, 434 (1948)
Vendrely, R., Vendrely, C.: L’acide désoxyribonucleique. Substance fundamentale de la cellule vivante. Paris: A. Legrand et C. 1957
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1979 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Seuánez, H.N. (1979). Evolution of Genome Size in Man and the Great Apes. In: The Phylogeny of Human Chromosomes. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-67260-6_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-67260-6_18
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-09303-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-67260-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive