110 Years of Orthopteran Cytogenetics, the Chromosomal Evolutionary Viewpoint, and Michael White's Signal Contributions to the Field

• Published in: Journal of orthoptera research Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 165 - 182
• Main Authors: Bidau, Claudio J, Martí, Dardo A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Orthopterists' Society 01-12-2010; Pensoft Publishers
• Subjects: A JOR special section devoted to the 100th anniversary of Michael James Denham White's birth; Animal genetics; Chiasmata; chromosomal speciation; chromosome theory; Chromosomes; Cytogenetics; Cytology; Evolution; Evolutionary genetics; Genetic aspects; Genetic inheritance; History; history of cytogenetics; Meiosis; Michael White; Orthoptera; Physiological aspects; population cytogenetics; Sex chromosomes; Argentina
• ISSN: 1082-6467; 1937-2426
• DOI: 10.1665/034.019.0202

The history of the study of orthopteran chromosomes is coincident with the formulation of the chromosome theory of heredity and the rediscovery of Mendel's laws, thus with the birth of cytogenetics. We review the early contributions of grasshopper chromosomes to the chromosome theory the understanding of sex chromosomes, the phenomena of mitosis, meiosis, linkage, crossing over and recombination, the problems of chiasma localization and terminalization, reproduction and parthenogenesis, the nature and behavior of B chromosomes and supernumerary segments, and the role of chromosomal rearrangements in microevolution and speciation. We also discuss the influence of early works on later research, and emphasize the fundamental contributions of Michael J. D.White to modern cytogenetics and evolutionary biology in general.