Chromosome Walk

For the past two years Bradford has been working with the Corn Genetic Group led by Dr. Georgia Davis and Susan Melia-Hancock to develop the Chromosome Walk (Chromosome Maze). This demonstration is designed to show how corn would change phenotypically if a mutation occurred at specific positions (bins ) along each chromosome.

A plot was planted with 10 rows of corn with each row representing one of the 10 chromosomes of corn. The length of each row was also in proportion to the length of each chromosome with chromosome one being the longest and chromosome 10 the shortest. The chromosomes (or rows) were also lined up on their centromeres.

Many of the mutations resulted in striped leaves or lesions on the leaves or stalks whereas others are dwarfed, knotted, or have their seeds in the wrong place. For further information on the mutants and how the chromosome walk is laid out, see: A Walk Through the Maize Genome and Mutants of Maize (XLS).

Each year Susan Melia-Hancock shows many students the different mutants including these students from the Life Science Academy.
Dwarf - An example of a mutant on Chromosome 1 at bin 9 that causes the dwarf plant.
Knotted - A mutation on Chromosome 1 at Bin 10 causes the vascular tissue to over grow and result in a knotted appearance.
Teopod - This mutant at Chromosome 10 bin 4 not only has many tillers but also very leafy ears.
Tassel seed - Tassels on this mutant at Chromosome 1 bin 3 exhibit seeds on their tassels.
Yellow Stripe - Although attractive, yellow striping from a mutant on Chromosome 3 bin 4 is detrimental to the corn plant.
Lazy Plant - These plants that have a mutation at Chromosome 4 bin 3 and don't know which way is up and down and will bend and grown along the ground after the 8th leaf stage.