The Mechanisms of Genetic Transmission

Abstract

Somatic cell multiplication is realized by cell division, resulting in two equivalent daughter cells. In higher organisms cell division normally is preceded by nucllaer y cell division, resulting in two equivalent daughter cells. In higher organisms cell dear division, almost without exception following a strict pattern: mitosis. This is the process basically responsible for chromosome (and thus gene) transmission. The sequence of mitotic stages is presented diagrammatically in most textbooks on cytogenetics and general genetics, often combined with protomicrographs of the different stages. A well-known series of photographs of mitosis and meiosis Lilium is that of McLeish and Snoad (1958 and later editions). In Fig. 3.1 the mitotic stages are diagrammatically represented on a horizontal line. When both daughter nuclei divide again, the line branches, which is not shown in the diagram. Often, mitotic division is represented as a cycle, which does not represent the actual situation.