The C-value enigma in plants and animals: a review
of parallels and an appeal for partnership.
T. Ryan Gregory
Annals of Botany
95: 133-146.
Invited review for a special issue
based on the Kew Plant
Genome Size
Discussion Meeting, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Sept. 2003.
Abstract
Aims: Plants and
animals represent the two original kingdoms, and
remain the two best-studied groups in terms of nuclear DNA content
variation. Unfortunately, the
traditional chasm between botanists and zoologists has done much to
prevent an
integrated approach to resolving the C-value enigma, the long-standing
puzzle
surrounding the evolution of genome size.
This grand division is both unnecessary and counterproductive,
and the
present review aims to illustrate the numerous links between the
patterns and
processes found in plants and animals so that a stronger unity can be
developed
in the future.
Scope: This review discusses the numerous parallels that exist in
genome size evolution between plants and animals, including i) the
construction
of large databases, ii) the patterns of DNA content variation among
taxa, iii)
the cytological, morphological, physiological, and evolutionary impacts
of
genome size, iv) the mechanisms by which genomes change in size, and v)
the
development of new methodologies for estimating DNA contents.
Conclusions: The fundamental questions of the C-value enigma
clearly transcend taxonomic boundaries, and increased communication is
therefore urged among those who study genome size evolution, whether in
plants,
animals, or other organisms.
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