Date of Award
December 2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
William F. Sheridan
Abstract
The maize mutant UND-9 is being studied in our lab as part of a larger study into the genes responsible for embryo development in maize. It is known as an embryo-specific mutant, which causes the embryo of the maize kernel to fail to develop fully while not hindering the development of the endosperm. During this study, it was discovered that the inheritance of this mutation appeared to behave in a manner contrary to the normal laws of Mendelian inheritance. This paper represents a deeper study into the mechanisms of this behavior, analyzing the data collected so far and in particular whether transmission through either the male or female gametophyte has any effect on the presence of the mutation in further generations. We conclude that while some trends in the non-Mendelian behavior are inheritable, we find little evidence of gametophytes playing an abnormal role, and set the stage for future studies with a new hypothetical model.
Recommended Citation
Larson, Christopher D., "Non-Mendelian Segregation Of The Maize Embryo-Specific Mutation UND-9" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 4544.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/4544