Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...

Lampbrush Chromosomes

Lampbrush Chromosomes

In 1882, Flemming observed lampbrush chromosomes (LBC) in salamander eggs. Later in 1892, Rückert observed LBCs in shark egg cells and coined the term "lampbrush chromosomes" because they looked like brushes used to clean kerosene lamps.
LBCs are made up of two pairs of conjugating homologous chromatids. Each chromatid consists of alternatively positioned regions of condensed-inactive chromatin and loosely placed-active side loops, which can be contracted and extended. The loops resemble the...

Lampbrush Chromosomes

Lampbrush Chromosomes

In 1882, Flemming observed lampbrush chromosomes (LBC) in salamander eggs. Later in 1892, Rückert observed LBCs in shark egg cells and coined the term "lampbrush chromosomes" because they looked like brushes used to clean kerosene lamps.
LBCs are made up of two pairs of conjugating homologous chromatids. Each chromatid consists of alternatively positioned regions of condensed-inactive chromatin and loosely placed-active side loops, which can be contracted and extended. The loops resemble the...

Chromosome Structure

Chromosome Structure

A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
The centromere is a DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. This is also where kinetochores, protein complexes to which spindle microtubules attach, are constructed after the chromosome is replicated. The kinetochores allow the spindle microtubules to move the chromosomes within the cell during cell division.
Telomeres consist of non-coding repetitive nucleotide...

Chromosome Structure

Chromosome Structure

A functional eukaryotic chromosome must contain three elements: a centromere, telomeres, and numerous origins of replication.
The centromere is a DNA sequence that links sister chromatids. This is also where kinetochores, protein complexes to which spindle microtubules attach, are constructed after the chromosome is replicated. The kinetochores allow the spindle microtubules to move the chromosomes within the cell during cell division.
Telomeres consist of non-coding repetitive nucleotide...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Estimation of genome-wide coupling in rattlesnake hybrids provides insight into the process of speciation and its progress.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

The roles of gene duplications in the dynamics of evolutionary conflicts.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2024

Same author

Wright was right: leveraging old data and new methods to illustrate the critical role of epistasis in genetics and evolution.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2024

Same author

Drift drives the evolution of chromosome number I: The impact of trait transitions on genome evolution in Coleoptera.

The Journal of heredity·2024

Same author

Recurrent co-domestication of PIF/Harbinger transposable element proteins in insects.

Mobile DNA·2022

Same author

Evolutionary New Genes in a Growing Paradigm.

Genes·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

CAPRRESI: Chimera Assembly by Plasmid Recovery and Restriction Enzyme Site Insertion

CAPRRESI: Chimera Assembly by Plasmid Recovery and Restriction Enzyme Site Insertion

Published on: June 25, 2017

Why chromosome palindromes?

Esther Betrán¹, Jeffery P Demuth, Anna Williford

¹Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Box 19498, Arlington, TX 76019, USA.

International Journal of Evolutionary Biology

|July 31, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Y chromosome palindromes facilitate adaptation by increasing beneficial mutation fixation. This challenges the view that palindromes solely protect against degeneration, offering new insights into sex chromosome evolution.

More Related Videos

2D and 3D Chromosome Painting in Malaria Mosquitoes

2D and 3D Chromosome Painting in Malaria Mosquitoes

Published on: January 6, 2014

Chromosome Replicating Timing Combined with Fluorescent In situ Hybridization

Chromosome Replicating Timing Combined with Fluorescent In situ Hybridization

Published on: December 10, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

CAPRRESI: Chimera Assembly by Plasmid Recovery and Restriction Enzyme Site Insertion

CAPRRESI: Chimera Assembly by Plasmid Recovery and Restriction Enzyme Site Insertion

Published on: June 25, 2017

2D and 3D Chromosome Painting in Malaria Mosquitoes

2D and 3D Chromosome Painting in Malaria Mosquitoes

Published on: January 6, 2014

Chromosome Replicating Timing Combined with Fluorescent In situ Hybridization

Chromosome Replicating Timing Combined with Fluorescent In situ Hybridization

Published on: December 10, 2012

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Genetics
Molecular biology

Background:

Sex-limited chromosomes (Y or W) evolve unique structures like palindromes.
Y chromosome palindromes, composed of inverted duplicates, enable local recombination.
Palindromes are traditionally viewed as protective mechanisms against chromosome degeneration via gene conversion.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the adaptive significance of Y chromosome palindromes.
To propose that palindromes accelerate adaptation by enhancing beneficial mutation fixation.
To reconcile existing observations with the proposed adaptive role of palindromes.

Main Methods:

Theoretical modeling of recombination and mutation dynamics on Y chromosomes.
Analysis of gene retention and selection pressures on Y-linked genes.
Comparative genomics to assess palindrome distribution and function across species.

Main Results:

Palindromes may accelerate adaptation by increasing the rate of fixation for beneficial mutations.
This adaptive role explains the long-term retention of genes within palindromes.
Gene conversion within palindromes benefits not only gene maintenance but also initial fixation of beneficial mutations.

Conclusions:

Y chromosome palindromes play a crucial role in adaptive evolution, not just degeneration prevention.
The hypothesis reconciles the persistence of Y-linked genes and the benefits of gene conversion for fixation.
Future research should explore palindrome function in adaptive evolution on other chromosomes.