The importance of Rhynchosciara research for the development of molecular biology in Brazil: An autobiographical account

This paper is a historical-autobiographical account, by its leader, of the development of the "Rhynchosciara Molecular Biology Laboratory", form its beginnings in the Botany Department of the former Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters to its development in the Department of Biochemistry at the Institute of Chemistry, USP, and to its present situation in the Department of Biology at the Institute of Biosciences, USP. An analysis is made of the scientific contributions of the laboratory and of its important role in the formation of personnel and in the introduction of molecular biology techniques in Brazil.

Gene amplification in Rhynchosciara (1955-1987)

A review is made of the evidence indicating the existence of gene amplification in Rhynchosciara, from the early cytological work to the more recent studies using cloned sequences from the DNA puffs. Mention is made of work still in progress which indicates that the transcription unit of a DNA puff is surprisingly complex.