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HEREDITAS(Beijing) ›› 2015, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (6): 605-612.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.14-364

• Genetics Teaching • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Advances in understanding Drosophila salivary gland polytene chromosome and its applications in genetics teaching

Gang Li2, Fanguo Chen1, 3   

  1. 1. Genetic Teaching and Research Group, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China;
    2. Weifang University of Science and Technology, Shouguang 262700, China;
    3. The Key Laboratory of Plant Cell Engineering and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Education, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
  • Received:2014-10-24 Revised:2014-11-16 Online:2015-06-20 Published:2014-12-01

Abstract: Drosophila salivary gland polytene chromosome, one of the three classical chromosomes with remarkable characteristics, has been used as an outstanding model for a variety of genetic studies since 1934. The greatest contribution of this model to genetics has been providing extraordinary angle of view in studying interphase chromosome structure and gene expression regulation. Additionally, it has been extensively used to understand some special genetic phenomena, such as dosage compensation and position-effect variegation. In this paper, we briefly review the advances in the study of Drosophila salivary gland chromosome, and try to systematically and effectively introduce this model system into genetics teaching practice in order to steer and inspire students' interest in genetics.

Key words: genetics, cytogenetics, Drosophila salivary gland polytene chromosome, teaching practice