A probability model for the fusion of nucleoli in metabolic cells

The nucleoli are assumed to be originally of negligible size and located at random in the nucleus, considered as a sphere. They increase to a maximum size during interphase. Fusion occurs if the nucleoli touch during the size increase process. The probability of this event is calculated for various values of the maximum size of the nucleolus as compared with the size of the nucleus. A set of experimental data is analysed, using the results obtained. It turns out that the frequency of fusion is significantly higher than the assumption of initial random location would indicate. For further details on experimental material and methods, see Darvey &; Driscoll (1972).