Aig an àm a bha i aig Missouri, leudaich McClintock a rannsachadh mu bhuaidh X-ghathanna air cytogenetics arbhar. McClintock choimhead briseadh agus cumadh chromosomes ann an ceallan arbhar irradiated. Bha i cuideachd comasach air a shealltainn gu bheil, ann an cuid de lusan, spontanach chromosome briseadh a 'tachairt ann an ceallan an endosperm. Thar na cùrsa de mitosis, she observed that the ends of broken chromatids were rejoined after the chromosome replication. Ann an aon ìre de mitaphosis, the broken chromosomes formed a chromatid bridge, which was broken when the chromatids moved towards the cell poles. The broken ends were rejoined in the interphase of the next mitosis, and the cycle was triggered, causing massive mutation, which McClintock observed the breakage and fusion of chromosomes in irradiated maize cells. McClintock observed the breakage and fusion of chromosomes in the irradiated maize cells.
Institiùd Carnegie ann an Washington