Quantitative variation and chromosomal location of satellite DNAs

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Abstract
Summary: A model of the evolutionary accumulation of highly repeated DNA (HRDNA) is proposed. The accumulation of HRDNA sequences, which are organized largely in tandem arrays and whose functional significance is obscure, is explained here as a consequence of the action of the forces of amplification (promoting increase in copy numbers) and unequal crossing over, random drift and natural selection (controlling copy numbers). This model provides a general framework (i) to study the chromosomal location of satellite DNAs present in the genomes of all higher eukaryotes, and (ii) to explain the significant variation in the amounts of satellites which is frequently found among closely related species, but only rarely within a species. A review of the relevant data is included and open questions are identified.