Sex-ratio segregation distortion associated with reproductive isolation in Drosophila

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Nov 6;98(23):13183-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.231478798. Epub 2001 Oct 30.

Abstract

Sex-ratio distortion is the most common form of non-Mendelian segregation observed in natural populations. It may occur even more frequently than direct observations suggest, because the dysgenic population consequences of a biased sex ratio are expected to result in the rapid evolution of suppressors, resulting in suppressed or "cryptic" segregation distortion. Here we report evidence for cryptic sex-ratio distortion that was discovered by introgressing segments of the genome of Drosophila mauritiana into the genome of Drosophila simulans. The autosomal suppressor of sex-ratio distortion, which is also associated with a reduction in hybrid male fertility, has been genetically localized to a region smaller than 80-kb pairs in chromosome 3.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila / physiology*
  • Female
  • Homozygote
  • Male
  • Reproduction*
  • Sex Ratio*