Temporal stability of P–M cytotype polymorphism in a natural population ofDrosophila melanogaster

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: The P–M system of hybrid dysgenesis inDrosophila melanogasteris a syndrome of genetic abnormalities which appears in the progeny of crosses between strains different with regard to their possession of ‘P’ transposable elements. Cytotype is an extrachromosomal property which regulates the mobility of the P element. We report here data showing that a cytotype polymorphism previously observed in a natural population from North-Africa is stable over a period of 5 years. A potentially high rate of mutation is associated with this cytotype polymorphism. Explanations of the appearance of a cytotype polymorphism are proposed and the consequences for the genetic load induced by transposable elements are discussed.