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Evidence for sexual fusion and recombination in the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium (Gyrodinium) cohnii

Abstract

SEVERAL cytological and biochemical features of dinoflagellate chromosomes, such as low histone content1–3, threadlike appearance under the electron microscope1,4–6, absence of centromeres6, the condensed state persisting throughout interphase1,4–6, unusual DNA7 and the controversial possibility of multistrandedness8,9, suggest that the genetics of these organisms might be unusual. We report here initial experiments on the genetics of the heterotrophic marine, coccoid dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium cohnii10 previously believed to be asexual10. We have evidence of sexuality, complementation, recombination and a complex life cycle.

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BEAM, C., HIMES, M. Evidence for sexual fusion and recombination in the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium (Gyrodinium) cohnii. Nature 250, 435–436 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250435a0

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