Sterility-mutability correlation: On the correlation between sterility and mutability during P-M hybrid dysgenesis inDrosophila melanogaster

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Abstract
Summary: Twelve isogenicXchromosome lines from a single natural population ofDrosophila melanogasterwere tested for their potential to induce gonadal dysgenesis andsinged-weakmutability inP-Mhybrid dysgenesis. The correlation between sterility and mutability was significantly positive for Cross A, confirming the results reported by Engels (1984) and Kocur, Drier & Simmons (1986). In Cross A* cytotype tests, however, two of the lines gave strikingly different results when measured by the gonadal dysgenesis test as compared to thesinged-weaktest. Positive correlations between traits within a given line were generally not observed. The results suggest that the relationship between gonadal dysgenesis production and the mobilization ofPelements insinged-weakmutability is more complicated than that proposed by Engels (1984). The two phenomena may be separable under certain conditions. Neither test can be taken as an adequate characterization of the hybrid dysgenesis ‘profile’ of a line of flies.