[Stretched polytene chromosomes--model for studying the functional organization of eukaryotic chromosomes]

To localize functional loci on cytological maps of polytene chromosomes we propose to use 10-100 times stretched chromosomes. Three different ways of stretchening are briefly considered: the squash tissue preparation, when chromosomes are stretched by hydrodynamical forces; the treatment of isolated polytene chromosomes in 10-minus 4M EDTA OR 0.8M NaCL with subsequent change of these solution for saline when abrupt structural changes occur in chromosomes and they become morphologically homogeneous threads (Gruzdev and Belaya, 1973); and, finally, the use of microneedles of the micromanipulator. After an intense (ca. 100 times) stretchening, the autoradiography is sufficient to localize the loci within one micron length of double helical DNA molecule.