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Related Experiment Videos

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosomes: what's the difference?

A J Bendich1, K Drlica

  • 1Departments of Botany and Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-5325, USA.

Bioessays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
|May 8, 2000
PubMed
Summary

The prokaryote/eukaryote distinction may not fully explain chromosomal differences. Nucleosome-based DNA packaging offers a more useful criterion for understanding evolutionary relationships between organisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Profound differences in cellular architecture exist between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
  • Eukaryotic chromosomes are housed within a nuclear membrane, unlike prokaryotic chromosomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between chromosomal properties and the presence or absence of a nuclear membrane.
  • To explore alternative criteria for inferring phylogenetic relationships beyond the prokaryote/eukaryote dichotomy.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of chromosomal properties including multiplicity, ploidy, linearity, transcriptional silencing, partitioning, and packaging.
  • Evaluation of cytological limitations in comparing bacterial nucleoids and eukaryotic chromosomes.

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Main Results:

  • No consistent association was found between chromosomal properties and the presence or absence of a nuclear membrane.
  • Perceived differences may stem from cytological limitations and organism selection.

Conclusions:

  • The prokaryote/eukaryote distinction is not a reliable indicator of chromosomal property differences.
  • Nucleosome-based packaging of chromosomal DNA may serve as a more effective criterion for inferring broad phylogenetic relationships.