| MadSci Network: Genetics |
Hello Sanaz, This is an interesting question, because genetic studies require the recombination of genetic information. If an organism is haploid, each cell has only one copy of the genome, so how can there be any recombination of genes? Although Sordaria spends most of its life cycle as a haploid, it can reproduce sexually. This is accomplished by the fusing of two nuclei to form a diploid cell, and is followed by meiosis. This yields four spores that can germinate to form four haploid individuals. Since Sordaria can go through sexual reproduction, one can study several genetic processes. You could follow independent assortment of genes, look for epistasis, and generate genetic maps, which could include the physical order of genes along a chromosome as well as their relative distances. Haploid organisms offer some advantages in genetic studies, primarily in that you don't have to worry about "dominant" or "recessive" genes. In a haploid, essentially all the genes are dominant, making them easy to study. The downside to this is it is very difficult if not impossible to study lethal mutations in a haploid. More detailed explanations along with diagrams can be found at the following web site. http://www.fgsc.net/sordnn16.html Alex
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