Abstract
There is an astonishing variation in the amount of chromosomal DNA among species of higher plants. Much of this variation is due to the amplification of base sequences within the chromosomes. As a result, the amount of DNA in the nuclei of many species is very great. In particular, the chromosomes are rich in repetitive DNA, which may comprise 70 % or more of the total. This fraction contains at most only a few genes that code for proteins. What, then, is its functional significance? There is evidence that DNA amount per se affects cell size and the duration of cell divisions. The results of recent assays also provide evidence that particular repetitive sequences have specific effects upon the phenotype. While these effects may be small in themselves they may nevertheless be important in Nature and in plant breeding
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
