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Boveri and Sutton - Beadle and Tatum

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27 views

Boveri and Sutton - Beadle and Tatum

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Mpho
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Chromosomal Theory of inheritance,

Genetics of sex proposed by Sutton and Boveri


Theodor Boveri (1862-1915) and Walter Sutton (1877-1916) propose that chromosomes
bear hereditary factors in accordance with Mendelian laws

• Mendel had worked with traits of whole organisms.


• He did not investigate how characteristics are sorted and combined
on a cellular level, where reproduction takes place.
• During Mendel’s experimentation, the society was not acceptable
to drastic changes in their scientific ideas.
• They could not believe the existence of such discrete factors such
as genes which would segregate without mixing as this did not
support their idea of the constant changes leading to evolution.
• Moreover, the means of communication was poor at that time as a
result of which, the information could not be conveyed to the
masses.
• Also, Mendel’s mathematical approach to prove biological laws was
unacceptable. ??
The Chromosomal Theory of inheritance,
• As time passed, scientists Vries, Correns and Tschermak
discovered chromosomes which existed inside the nucleus.
• The American Walter Sutton and the German scientist Theodor
Boveri (1902) observed the behaviour of the chromosomes when
the cells were divided.
• With the advancements in the microscope, this task became
easier. Hence, they proved Mendel’s laws with the help of
chromosomal movement.
• Boveri and Sutton (1902), working independently, suggested that
chromosomes could be shown to bear the material of
heredity. !!!
• Mendelian concepts, as it turned out, had an excellent fit with
facts about chromosomes.
 The Chromosomal Theory of inheritance ; came into existence
long after Mendelian genetics
The Chromosomal Theory of inheritance,
• Boveri had previously shown that chromosomes remain organized
units through the process of cell division, demonstrated that
sperm and egg cells each contribute the same number of
chromosomes and that proper embryonic development of sea
urchins does not occur unless chromosomes are present?.
• That same year, Sutton observed the separation of chromosomes
into daughter cells during meiosis.
• Together, these observations led to the development of the
Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance, which identified
chromosomes as the genetic material responsible for Mendelian
inheritance.
• The idea of chromosomal segregation combined with the
Mendelian principles gave rise to the chromosomal theory of
Inheritance.
The Chromosomal Theory of inheritance
It is the fundamental theory of genetics.
• According to this theory, GENES are the units of heredity and are
found in the chromosomes
But does each chromosome have specific properties?
Is a full complement of chromosomes necessary for reproduction and
development?

An electron micrograph of a human chromosome XII


The Chromosomal Theory of inheritance
The Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance was consistent with
Mendel’s laws and was supported by the following observations:
• During meiosis, homologous chromosome pairs migrate as
discrete structures that are independent of other chromosome
pairs.
• The sorting of chromosomes from each homologous pair into
pre-gametes appears to be random.
• Each parent synthesizes gametes that contain only half of their
chromosomal complement.
• Even though male and female gametes (sperm and egg) differ in
size and morphology, they have the same number of
chromosomes, suggesting equal genetic contributions from each
parent.
• The gametic chromosomes combine during fertilization to
produce offspring with the same chromosome number as their
parents.
Beadle and Tatum (1941) ; How do genes direct the
synthesis of enzymes that control metabolic processes?
• Using genetic and biochemical studies of the bread mold
Neurospora, Beadle and Tatum identified bread mold mutants that
were unable to make specific amino acids.
In each one, a mutation had "broken" an enzyme needed to build a
certain amino acid.
Neurospora crassa, proved ideal.
• Can be cultured together with sugar, inorganic salts, and the vitamin
biotin.
• Has a short life cycle, and reproduces sexually and replicates
asexually—that is, sexual reproduction gives rise to spores.
• Possesses only one set of unpaired chromosomes, so that any
mutation is immediately expressed.
In addition to governing the expression of hereditary characteristics,
genes direct the manufacture of proteins that control the basic
metabolic functions, which characterize life itself. This insight, with
Beadle and Tatum experiment (1941) ; How do genes direct
the synthesis of enzymes that control metabolic processes?

Homework: The test in (d) includes minimal and complete media growth experiments as
"controls": what do these experiments "control" for? Hint: supposing growth occurred on
both minimal and complete medium, what would you conclude?

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