Darwin-L Message Log 6:26 (February 1994)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<6:26>From HOLSINGE@UCONNVM.BITNET  Mon Feb  7 06:58:35 1994

Date: Mon, 07 Feb 1994 07:51:00 -0500 (EST)
From: "Kent E. Holsinger" <HOLSINGE%UCONNVM.BITNET@KU9000.CC.UKANS.EDU>
Subject: Re: extragenetic inheritance
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu

Kelly Smith asks for examples of "heritable, non-genetic factors that influence
phenotypic form."  I presume that "heritable, non-nuclear factors that
influence phenotypic form" is meant.  If so, I can think of a couple of
examples from plants.

Many gynodioecious plants (e.g., thyme) exhibit cytoplasmic inheritance of
male sterility.  The genetic factors are generally thought to be encoded by
mitochondrial genes (as has been definitively demonstrated for cytoplasmic
male sterility in corn).

Plastome mutants in Oenothera often show chlorotic regions on their leaves,
and many horticultural varieties with white stripes or mottling on their
leaves are the result of chloroplast mutants being expressed in certain cell
lineages.

-- Kent

+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Kent E. Holsinger            Internet: Holsinge@UConnVM.UConn.edu |
|  Dept. of Ecology &           BITNET:   Holsinge@UConnVM           |
|    Evolutionary Biology, U-43                                      |
|  University of Connecticut                                         |
|  Storrs, CT   06269-3043                                           |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+

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