Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Using RNA-mediated Interference Feeding Strategy to Screen for Genes Involved in Body Size Regulation in the Nematode C. elegans
Published on: February 13, 2013
Size isn't everything: lessons in genetic miniaturisation from nucleomorphs
P R Gilson1, U G Maier, G I McFadden
1Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. pgilson@rubens.its.unimelb.edu.au
Abstract:
Nucleomorphs are the vestigial nuclear genomes of eukaryotic algal cells now existing as endosymbionts within a host cell. Molecular investigation of the endosymbiont genomes has allowed important insights into the process of eukaryote/eukaryote cell endosymbiosis and has also disclosed a plethora of interesting genetic phenomena. Although nucleomorph genomes retain classic eukaryotic traits such as linear chromosomes, telomeres, and introns, they are highly reduced and modified. Nucleomorph chromosomes are extremely small and encode compacted genes which are disrupted by the tiniest spliceosomal introns found in any eukaryote. Mechanisms of gene expression within nucleomorphs have apparently accommodated increasingly parsimonious DNA usage by permitting genes to become co-transcribed or, in select cases, to overlap.
Related Concept Videos
In-vitro Mutagenesis
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
In contrast, regions which code...
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes
Nucleosome Remodeling
Nucleosome remodeling complex
Eukaryotic cells have specialized enzymes called ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling enzymes. These enzymes...
Position-effect Variegation
The Nucleosome
In a chromosome, DNA is wound twice around a protein complex called a histone octamer core, which consists of 8 histone proteins. This...

