Mean chiasma frequencies and the amounts of between-bivalent chiasma variation were computed for pollen mother cells (p.m.c.) and embryo-sac mother cells (e.m.c.) of five distinct inbred rye lines. Despite the considerable differences for both these metrics shown by the different lines, very little variation was seen between p.m.c. and e.m.c. belonging to the same lines. It is concluded that chiasma formation in p.m.c. and e.m.c. of rye is governed and regulated by a single controlling system of genes and that variation in this genetic system is expressed identically in the two sexes.

R factors have been demonstrated in multiply drug resistant strains of enterobacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Birmingham hospital (Lowbury et al. 1969; Ingram, Richmond & Sykes, 1973). A comparative genetic analysis of these R factors has been initiated on the basis of a variety of phenotypic characteristics. This paper describes the properties of R factors derived from strains which could transfer multiple drug resistance to the recipient species P. aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri and Salmonella typhimurium. Two types of R factor could be recognized phenotypically. The single group 1 R factor, R18–1 which is probably the same as RPl-1 (Ingram et al. 1972) was different to the group 2 R factors in many respects, including host range, R factor-specific phage plating, cellular location, drug resistance pattern, and stability. The group 2 R factors were found to be very similar to RPl (Grinsted et al. 1972) and R1822 (Olsen & Shipley, 1973) with respect to their wide host range, plating of a sex specific phage, extrachromosomal location, and drug resistance pattern. Compatibility was shown between the group 1 R factor and a group 2 R factor, providing additional evidence for significant genetic differences.

The activity of blood glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI-1) in mice heterozygous for various alleles at the Gpi-1s structural locus (heterozygotes a/b, a/c and b/c) was significantly higher than expected, on the basis of additive inheritance, from the levels in parental homozygotes. Moreover, the GPI-1 activity was higher in a/b heterozygotes than in either parent (heterosis). Studies of heat stability with kidney homogenates revealed that the relative stabilities of GPI-1 dimers was AA > AB > BB > AC ≥ BC > CC. Differences in dimer stabilities in vivo would affect the total GPI-1 levels in heterozygotes and could account for non-additive inheritance but would be insufficient to explain heterosis for GPI-1 activity. Other possible contributing factors include unequal production or stability of monomers, or higher catalytic activity of heterodimers. Monomers could also associate non-randomly but this would not be sufficient to explain heterosis. It is clear that non-additive inheritance patterns may be produced by variants of either structural or regulatory genes.

The DNA contents of nuclei during gametogenesis and embryogenesis in Ascaris lumbricoides were measured by Feulgen-microspectrophoto-metry. The variability in the mean value for the haploid amount of DNA in sperm from different males processed at different times was not significant when sperm cell samples were taken from the same region of the seminal vesicle. As the sperm mature, the extent of uptake of Feulgen dye decreases nonsystematically. A similar phenomenon occurs during embryogenesis, and as noted by others, primary oocytes in the terminal portion of the oviduct become Feulgen-negative. Feulgen-positive primary oocytes maintain a 4C DNA value without significant variation. Notwithstanding the differences in Feulgen-DNA values in certain types of nuclei, our evidence supports the view that in Ascaris lumbricoides the amount of intraspecific DNA has a constant value between individual organisms and from one generation to the next. About 34% of the DNA of the zygote is lost through chromatin diminution at the third embryonic cleavage. This quantity represents 0·23 pg DNA per haploid equivalent.

The locus for properdin (properdin factor complement, Pfc), a plasma glycoprotein, has been mapped to band A3 of the mouse X chromosome by in situ hybridization to metaphase spreads containing an X;2 Robertsonian translocation. The X-linkage of the locus has also been confirmed by analysis of Mus musculus x Mus spretus interspecific crosses. The XA3 localization for Pfc places it in the chromosomal segment conserved between man and mouse which is known to contain at least six other homologous loci (Cybb, Otc, Syn-1 Maoa, Araf, Timp).

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae whose colonies were blue when grown on nutrient agar medium containing methylene blue reverted to wild-type with white-colony phenotype at high frequency. This reversion was controlled by nuclear gene suppressors in some mutants, and by cytoplasmic suppressors in others. Each of the latter suppressed several independetly segregating blue mutants. These suppressors could be divided into two classes: suppression by petite mutations which behaved as recessives, and suppression by a cytoplasmic factor in respiration-sufficient cells which behaved as dominant over wild-type but might also be a mutation of rho. A relationship between blue mutation and temperature sensitivity was suggested.

Ten U.V.-induced mutants at the adenine-1 locus of Schizosaccharomyces pombe differ not only in their intragenic location but also in their spontaneous, HNO2- and U.V.-induced frequencies of reversion to adenine-independence. Seven mutants reverted with HNO2 and of these only two reverted also with U.V.; the other three did not revert with either HNO2 or U.V.

Genetic analysis of revertants showed that they could be due to suppressor mutations at a locus or loci far from the adenine-1 locus, or to events extremely close to, if not identical with, the original site of mutation. Many distant suppressors were found among spontaneous revertants of some adenine-1 and adenine-7 allles, but such suppressors appear to be less frequent among the five adenine-8 mutants tested. There are large differences between different sites at the same locus in the proportion of their spontaneous revertants due to distant suppressor mutations. Nitrous acid-induced revertants of adenine1-, adenine-7, and adenine-8 mutants were almost all of a type containing no detectable suppressor mutation. In the three cases studied, U.V.-induced revertants could be either predominantly of a suppressor or non-suppressor type, depending on the particular mutant examined.

Striking examples of mutagen specificity were found in which a particular mutant gave mostly suppressor-type revertants with one mutagen, while with another mutagen revertants were mainly of a type containing no detectable suppressor mutation.

A spontaneous mutation conferring white plasmodial colour on the Myxomycete Physarum polycephalum has been analysed. The mutant whi-1 allele is recessive to whi+ in both heterokaryotic and heterozygous plasmodia. The whi locus is unlinked to mt, npfA, fusA and leu.

Six experimental populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura were maintained in three different environments for almost four and a half years. All the populations have originally descended from the same founders. The populations were examined for evidences of genetic divergence. The longevity of the flies from four of these populations, and their F1 and F2 hybrids, was studied at 16°C. and at 27°C. The results indicate that the gene pools of some of the populations have diverged from each other.

This paper is devoted to the study of the effects of population subdivision on the evolution of two linked loci. Two simple deterministic models of population subdivision without selection are investigated. One is a finite linear ‘stepping stone’ model and the other is a finite linear stepping stone chain of populations stretching between two large populations of constant genetic constitution. At equilibrium in the first model the gene frequencies in each population are equal and there is linkage equilibrium in each population. The rate of decay to zero of the linkage disequilibrium functions is the larger of (1 – c) and , where λ1 is the rate of convergence of the gene frequencies to equilibrium and c is the recombination frequency. In the second model at equilibrium there will be a linear cline in gene frequencies connecting the two large constant populations. This cline will be accompanied by a ‘cline’ of linkage disequilibria. The rate of convergence to this equilibrium cline is independent of the recombination frequency, and, in fact, the gene frequencies and the linkage disequilibria converge to equilibrium at the same rate.

Crosses were made between four populations of Drosophila melanogaster – three of which were laboratory populations (Kaduna, Pacific and Canberra) and one recently captured (Stellenbosch) – and a line previously selected for low sternopleural bristle number for many generations from a Kaduna/Pacific source. In each of six replicate lines from each cross selection was practised for low sternopleural bristle number, and subsequently these replicates were intercrossed and reselected.

Initially, similar responses were made in each set of lines, but subsequently more variation between replicates was found in Stellenbosch, which was the primary source of lines which responded to a level below that of the original selected line.

It is concluded that this newly captured population contains genetic variability absent from the laboratory populations. Presumably variability has been lost from the latter populations, leaving essentially the same genes segregating in each.