Abstract

<h2>APC IN MEIOSI</h2> The evidence from budding yeast that the APC is essential for progression through meiosis is clear. Nonetheless, despite the conservation of APC subunits and cohesin components in different organisms (reviewed in reference 48 ), whether there is indeed a widespread requirement for the APC in chromosome segregation during meiosis is far from certain. In fact, two studies have shown that the APC is dispensable for meiosis in Xenopus laevis ( 53 , 66 ), casting some doubt on the relevance of extrapolating the data from budding yeast to higher organisms. In this regard, C. elegans has provided evidence showing support for the data obtained with budding yeast that the APC is indeed essential for meiotic progression. The hermaphrodite reproductive system in C. elegans has been a useful tool for the examination of both mitotic and meiotic cell divisions. The hermaphrodite reproductive system is a U-shaped structure, with one arm of the U extending towards the anterior of the worm and the other towards the posterior (Fig. 2A ). Each arm serves as an ovary which ends off with a spermatheca joined to a uterus (Fig. 2A ). A vulval opening in the middle of the