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. 1987 Jun;116(2):241–251. doi: 10.1093/genetics/116.2.241

X-Y Exchange and the Coevolution of the X and Y Rdna Arrays in Drosophila melanogaster

M R Gillings 1,2, R Frankham 1,2, J Speirs 1,2, M Whalley 1,2
PMCID: PMC1203135  PMID: 17246383

Abstract

The nucleolus organizers on the X and Y chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster are the sites of 200-250 tandemly repeated genes for ribosomal RNA. As there is no meiotic crossing over in male Drosophila, the X and Y chromosomal rDNA arrays should be evolutionarily independent, and therefore divergent. The rRNAs produced by X and Y are, however, very similar, if not identical. Molecular, genetic and cytological analyses of a series of X chromosome rDNA deletions (bb alleles) showed that they arose by unequal exchange through the nucleolus organizers of the X and Y chromosomes. Three separate exchange events generated compound X·Y L chromosomes carrying mainly Y-specific rDNA. This led to the hypothesis that X-Y exchange is responsible for the coevolution of X and Y chromosomal rDNA. We have tested and confirmed several of the predictions of this hypothesis: First, X· YL chromosomes must be found in wild populations. We have found such a chromosome. Second, the X·YL chromosome must lose the YL arm, and/or be at a selective disadvantage to normal X+ chromosomes, to retain the normal morphology of the X chromosome. Six of seventeen sublines founded from homozygous X·YLbb stocks have become fixed for chromosomes with spontaneous loss of part or all of the appended YL. Third, rDNA variants on the X chromosome are expected to be clustered within the X+ nucleolus organizer, recently donated (" Y") forms being proximal, and X-specific forms distal. We present evidence for clustering of rRNA genes containing Type 1 insertions. Consequently, X-Y exchange is probably responsible for the coevolution of X and Y rDNA arrays.

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These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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