四分孢子之研究

Tetrad analysis

In a number of fungi, algae, Bryophytes, and some higher plants, it is possible to isolate and genetically analyze the four cells resulting from a single meiosis. The four meiotic products can be separated and grown into four gametophytes or gones (the term gone is used to designated a clone derived from a single meiotic product), or in the case of higher plants the pollen tetrads can be utilized to fertilize standard female parents. In this way the genotype of the four products of a single meiosis can be identified by suitable tests. This type of genetic analysis is called tetrad analysis in contradistinction to single strand analysis. Single strand analysis is typified by the familiar type of genetic studies done on Drosophila or maize, where single meiotic products (sperm or pollen) are selected at random from many meioses and analyzed for their genetic constitution by crossing to suitable tester strains.