Genetic Repression in Multicellular Organisms

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Variegated position effects in Drosophila, unstable loci in flowering plants, and mottling of sex-linked characters in female mammals involve intrachromosomal changes that affect the expression, but not the constitution, of the genes. The question is considered whether the genetic repression exhibited in these cases exemplifies the operation of a mechanism whereby gene action is specifically regulated during development of the individual. The basic requirement to be met in the latter case is recognition of the uniqueness of each gene. The paragenetic phenomena in question do not fulfil this condition. They appear to involve another form of genetic repression that overrides the definitive means of regulating gene action.