Polytene chromosomes are large chromosomes which have thousands of DNA strands. They provide a high level of function in certain tissues such as salivary glands of insects.[1]
Polytene chromosomes were first reported by E.G.Balbiani in 1881. Polytene chromosomes are found in dipteran flies: the best understood are those of Drosophila, Chironomus and Rhynchosciara. They are present in another group of arthropods of the class Collembola, a protozoan group Ciliophora, mammalian trophoblasts and antipodal, and suspensor cells in plants.[2] In insects, they are commonly found in the salivary glands when the cells are not dividing.
They are produced when repeated rounds of DNA replication without cell division forms a giant chromosome. Thus polytene chromosomes form when multiple rounds of replication produce many sister chromatids which stay fused together.
Polytene chromosomes, at interphase, are seen to have distinct thick and thin banding patterns. These patterns were originally used to help map chromosomes, identify small chromosome mutations, and in taxonomic identification. They are now used to study the function of genes in transcription.[3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
EncycLifewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Sumner, Adrian T. (2002). Chromosomes Organization and Function. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 182–193. ISBN 978-0-470-69522-7.
- ^ Alanen, M. (1986). "Whole mount electron microscopic maps of Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosomes". Hereditas. 104 (1): 91–101. doi:10.1111/j.1601-5223.1986.tb00521.x.