Abstract
The msr trait of Drosophila pseudoobscura occurs when "sex-ratio" males produce a very high frequency of null-X sperm which give rise to sterile male (X/O) progeny. The trait involves dramatically lowered fecundity due to spermiogenic failure. The msr trait is multigenic and the genes are located on autosomes II, III and IV of the L116 laboratory stock. This stock also carries genes on the Y chromosome that lower the level of msr. When the genes on the L116 autosomes are present together or with those on the Y chromosome of other stocks, they interact cooperatively to produce very high levels of msr. The msr genes require the presence of a sex-ratio X chromosome to have any effect and thus may be regarded as modifiers of the "sex-ratio" phenotype. Crosses show that the genes causing msr are primarily recessive but have some expression when heterozygous. Sex chromosome nondisjunction is proposed as the mechanism underlying the msr trait.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (942.1 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Curtsinger J. W., Feldman M. W. Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of the "Sex-Ratio" Polymorphism in DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA. Genetics. 1980 Feb;94(2):445–466. doi: 10.1093/genetics/94.2.445. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Eshel I. Selection of sex-ratio and the evolution of sex-determination. Heredity (Edinb) 1975 Jun;34(3):351–361. doi: 10.1038/hdy.1975.44. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hartl D. L. Modifier theory and meiotic drive. Theor Popul Biol. 1975 Apr;7(2):168–174. doi: 10.1016/0040-5809(75)90012-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McKee B. Sex Chromosome Meiotic Drive in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER Males. Genetics. 1984 Mar;106(3):403–422. doi: 10.1093/genetics/106.3.403. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Peacock W. J., Miklos G. L., Goodchild D. J. Sex chromosome meiotic drive systems in Drosophila melanogaster I. Abnormal spermatid development in males with a heterochromatin-deficient X chromosome (sc-4sc-8). Genetics. 1975 Apr;79(4):613–634. doi: 10.1093/genetics/79.4.613. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Policansky D., Ellison J. "Sex ratio" in Drosophila pseudoobscura: spermiogenic failure. Science. 1970 Aug 28;169(3948):888–889. doi: 10.1126/science.169.3948.888. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stalker H D. The Genetic Systems Modifying Meiotic Drive in Drosophila Paramelanica. Genetics. 1961 Feb;46(2):177–202. doi: 10.1093/genetics/46.2.177. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sturtevant A H, Dobzhansky T. Geographical Distribution and Cytology of "Sex Ratio" in Drosophila Pseudoobscura and Related Species. Genetics. 1936 Jul;21(4):473–490. doi: 10.1093/genetics/21.4.473. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]