Guardian Genius 69

[Aperio]

I have completed all the clues and I am now attempting the transformation of the six letter word in the centre of the crossword. Assuming the final versions of all words are real, this is what I have come up with as the possibilities for the letters in the word:

Letter 1: G/C
Letter 2:R/N
Letter 3:E/I/S
Letter 4: G/E
Letter 5: O/C/H
Letter 6: R/D/N/T/R/Y

However, I can not come up with a word which is consistent with the theme.

Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right track or am I simply wasting my time.

Many thanks
Aperio

[baitress]

It would be nice to no what the theme is.

[Aperio]

Baitress,

I did not want to do that as it would spoil the fun for others attempting this really challenging crossword.

If you're interested, details of the crossword are at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crossword/print/0,,- 24029,00.html

Aperio

[farmerswife]

Look in your first line! What does Gregor change into?

[Aperio]

He turns into an enormous bug. - the bug is thought to be either a cockroach or a beetle - neither of which helps in solving the problem.

[another-view]

I want help but I'm not going to tell you what the theme is?!

Why post then?

[Aperio]

Hi another-view

There are people on this forum who have already finished the crossword - I was hoping one of them would tell if I'm on the right track or not.

The reason I did not expose the theme is that as it would spoil the fun for others attempting this really challenging crossword.

If you're interested, details of the crossword are at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crossword/print/0,,- 24029,00.html

Aperio

[farmerswife]

You are totally on the right track

Letter one G changes to I
Letter two R changes to N
etc

I am totally stuck - I have the theme , have the title and changed gregor , but still have a few to get - killer!

28 across the changed word I have I?G?N?A, but I know one of those letters should be an S to get the actual clue solution. Help!?? (I hate to give in but I am spending too much time on this when I should be cracking on in the garedn in this beautiful weather, also house is a tip!)

[Rollo]

Ingenus

[Aperio]

Many thanks, farmerswife!

Letter 1 was the problem as I had only allowed G/C as possibilities, instead of G/C/I.

Rollo, has already answered your clue: in(genus=class).

Hope you had a nice time in your garden

Many thanks
Aperio

[farmerswife]

As a botany graduate there is no excuse for me needing help with that one!
Many thanks Aperio and Rollo.