Spontaneous meiotic non-disjunction in mammals. A study evaluating the various experimental approaches

Abstract

This report reviews and evaluates the various methods and techniques used for measuring the incidence of spontaneous meiotic non-disjunction in mammals generally and particularly in mouse and man, It also gives the principal results obtained with these methods and techniques and consequently, in a sense, is also a review of the incidence of meiotic non-disjunction in these species. The incidence of non-disjunction is only given for normal meiosis. Studies involving chromosomal aberrations, e.g. of translocation carriers, have not been included.

The effects of Robertsonian fusions on chiasma frequency and distribution in the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) from a hybrid zone in northern Scotland

“…Although many studies have analysed recombination and chiasmata in M. musculus , either because of their intrinsic genetic interest or in relation to other phenomena, most have been performed on laboratory strains (Searle et al ., 1970; Kyslikova & Forejt, 1972; Polani, 1972; Berry et al ., 1973; Lyon, 1976; Speed, 1977; Maudlin & Evans, 1980; Nijhoff & de Boer, 1981; Gorlov et al ., 1992; Lawrie et al ., 1995; Nachman & Churchill, 1996). However, in several cases detailed studies of male and female chiasma distribution are available (Polani, 1972; Speed, 1977; Nijhoff & de Boer, 1981; Lawrie et al ., 1995).…”

“…This effect has not been previously reported in feral mice (Gropp & Winking, 1981). Telocentric bivalents are unaffected and retain the same chiasma characteristics in the presence or absence of the Rb chromosomes; indeed, the 2 n =40 males studied by us show mean chiasma frequencies that fall within the range of chiasma frequencies of standard laboratory mice (Searle et al ., 1970; Kyslikova & Forejt, 1972; Polani, 1972; Berry et al ., 1973; Speed, 1977; Maudlin & Evans, 1980; Nijhoff & de Boer, 1981; Gorlov et al ., 1992; Lawrie et al ., 1995); the chiasma distribution that we observed in telocentric bivalents is likewise similar to that previously found in laboratory mice (Maudlin & Evans, 1980; Lawrie et al ., 1995).…”

Male meiosis and gametogenesis in wild house mice (<i>Mus musculus domesticu</i><i>s</i>) from a chromosomal hybrid zone; a comparison between “simple” Robertsonian heterozygotes and homozygotes

“…We adopted the same approach for chiasma counts of the common shrew (Searle, 1986), but in previous studies of male mice, counts have usually been made over the whole period of diakinesis/metaphase I. For example, studies on wild mice from two localities (Tolworth [England], Skokholm [Wales]) and five different stocks of laboratory mice, yielded mean chiasma counts over the range 20.6-24.1 at diakinesis/metaphase I (A.G. Searle et al, 1970;Nijhoff and de Boer. 1981).…”

Chromosomal control of early embryonic development in mice I. Experiments on embryos with autosomal monosomy

“…Autosomal monosomy is undoubtedly one of the rarest types of spontaneous chromosomal aberration in animals including mammals and man (Ford, 1971;Boue & Boue, 1975;Sankaranarayanan, 1979;Nijhoff & De Boer, 1981). Meanwhile, the experimental analysis of embryonic development in cases of autosomal monosomy might provide valuable information on the chromosomal control of early embryogenesis, and thus might be a fruitful approach to understanding gene regulation and expression during these crucial stages of ontogenesis (Dyban & Baranov, 1978;Baranov, 1980;Epstein, I981).…”