Two Recessive Male-Sterile Mutants - Essay Example

The authors of this article investigated two recessive male-sterile mutants of maize with similar patterns of pollen abortion, one with the ms23 and the other with the newly discovered ms32 gene. Their investigation specified the cell division located in the anther wall during the formation of pollen. In order to grow the plants, young spikelets were collected from immature tassels at 2–3 d intervals from the mid-portion of tassels from plants segregating 1:1 for male-sterile:male-fertile plants. After the growth of the plants, the necessary anthers were selected and fixed, and processed for microscopy. Bulk segregant analysis and determination of genetic linkage were also performed. The authors state that by comparing pollen development in these mutants with that in normal fertile plants, much can be learned about the cellular events involved in pollen development. They state that the primary defect in these mutants is the absence of a differentiated tapetum. They also conclude that future cloning, sequencing, and localization of expression of the ms23 and ms32 genes will be critical in distinguishing between the above models for the roles of these genes in regulating tapetal cell division and differentiation.
The article is easily understandable, with a detailed explanation of the issue, and despite the fact that it is published in a journal with a narrow field of research, it can easily be understood by people who do not specialize in botany. It clearly explains the purpose of the experiment, the findings as well as the effects of those findings on modern science.
This article is a well-written account of a scientific experiment with the purpose of broadening the view of the scientific community. It has all the essential elements that explain both the theoretical as well as the methodical aspects of science. Read More