Chromosome Recognition in Meiosis I Location: Outside U.S. Date:
January 2009 How does the homologous chromosomes recognize each
other in Meisosi I pairings? That is a great question. The
research is showing that each chromosome unzips a small region
of its DNA and they bind together there because of opposite base
pairing. There seem to be enzymes that coordinate this process.
My guess would be by base pairing between the sense strand of
one chromosome and the anti-sense strand of the homologous
chromosome. This assumes that the strands of each of the
homologous chromosomes unwind and are available for Hydrogen
bonding to a complementary strand using the Watson-Crick rules
for base pairing (A-T & G-C). This base pairing between
complementary strands of homologous chromosomes is probably the
physical basis for crossing-over between homologous chromosomes.
Ron Baker, Ph.D. Click here to return to the Molecular Biology
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