Somatic and Meiotic Chromosomes of the Small Free-Living Nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

The chromosomes of early embryonic cells of the small free-living nematode, C. elegans var. Bristol (N2) hermaphrodite, were observed by conventional Giemsa and G-band staining by the air-drying technique. Twelve diploid chromosomes were observed in the somatic cells and they were classified into six homologous pairs by G-band staining. In the first meiotic cells six tetrads were observed in pachytene and metaphase stages.