Zebra Corn

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• Zebra Corn

By Andrew Greenwood, Martha Swenson, and Julia
Kunberger
School of Arts Sciences
zebra crossbands4 (zb4), AG, JJK, MS, 1-13-05
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About Our Project
Throughout the semester, we have been studying
mutant corn. We decided to study zebra
Crossbands4 (zb4), a mutant known for its exotic
stripes. This is our project.
Slender, so slender Its stalk bends under
dew Little yellow ear -A Zen Poet
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What is Wrong?
Our mutant is called Zebra because of its
zebra-like stripes on the leaves. The mutation
is called zebra crossbands4 (zb4).The mutation
has a recessive mode of inheritance. The zb4
gene has not yet been cloned.
What causes these stripes?
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What causes these stripes?

• There are many different theories on what
  causes the zebra-like stripes on the leaves.
  Scientists have not yet discovered the exact
  cause for the stripes. We have some simple
  theories based on our knowledge.

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Genotype Phenotype Chart
Genotypeof individual
Phenotypeof individual
Alleles different forms of the same gene
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Diagram
Young Leaf Barely striped Middle-Aged Leaf Light
stripes (developing) Old Leaf Vibrant yellow
green stripes
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Growth Chart
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(1932) HK Hayes. Zebra Crossbands. Journal of
Heredity. Volume 23, pages 415-419.
(1938) HK Hayes. Zebra Seedling, zb4, has been
located in chromosome 1. Maize Newsletter. Volume
12, page 1.
(1939) HK Hayes. Recent Linkage studies in maize.
III. Zebra Seedling-4. Genetics. Volume 24, page
60-61.
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The End