A major question in evolutionary biology is how mating patterns affect the fitness of offspring. However, in animals and seed plants it is virtually impossible to investigate the effects of specific ...

Since the emergence of molecular genetics more than 50 years ago, scientists have tried to isolate haploid mammalian cells, that is, cells with half the number of chromosomes contained in somatic ...

THE expression of the same genes can be studied in both haploid and diploid cells of certain yeasts. If the genes control primarily haploid mating type traits, then it is interesting to know whether ...

Stem cell research holds huge potential for medicine and human health. In particular, human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), with their ability to turn into any cell in the human body, are essential to ...

A common strategy to create high-yielding plants is hybrid breeding. However, getting the inbred lines in the first place can be a hassle. In maize, the use of so-called 'haploid inducers' provides a ...

A haploid cell with 23 chromosomes (left), and a diploid cell with 46 chromosomes (right). Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert!