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. 1972 Jan;69(1):182–186. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.1.182

The Role of X-Chromosome Inactivation during Spermatogenesis

Eliezer Lifschytz 1,*, Dan L Lindsley 1
PMCID: PMC427571  PMID: 4621547

Abstract

Inactivation of the single X chromosome in the primary spermatocytes of species with heterogametic males is postulated as a basic control mechanism on the chromosomal level that is required for normal spermatogenesis. This view is supported by (a) cytological observations of X-chromosome allocycly in the primary spermatocytes of all male-heterogametic organisms that were adequately examined, (b) autoradiographic evidence of early cessation of transcription by the X chromosome in the mouse and three species of grasshopper, and (c) the male sterility of animals with certain X-chromosome rearrangements that cannot be attributed to misfunction of specific genes. X-chromosome inactivation during spermatogenesis is proposed as the ideal system for studies of genetic control at the chromosomal level.

Keywords: Drosophila, allocycly, chromosome evolution, male sterility, dosage compensation

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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