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A genetic analysis of reproduction in Strongyloides ratti

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

M. E. Viney
Affiliation:
Division of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK

Summary

Strongyloides ratti has a complex life-cycle with two adult generations, one free-living and dioecious and one parasitic and female only. The parasitic females reproduce by parthenogenesis, but it is unclear whether this is mitotic or meiotic in nature. This question has been addressed genetically by analysing the progeny of parasitic females that were heterozygous at an actin locus for evidence of allelic segregation. Such progeny were similarly heterozygous showing that segregation had not occurred. It was therefore concluded that reproduction in the parasitic female of S. ratti is functionally mitotic.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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References

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