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Hybrid dysgenesis in Drosophila melanogaster: partial sterility associated with embryo lethality in the P-M system
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 April 2009
Summary
Variable frequencies of unhatched eggs were observed to be produced by a number of F1 interstrain hybrids. This type of partial sterility resulting from F2 embryo death was found to be associated with the P-M system of hybrid dysgenesis. Dysgenic hybrid progeny of crosses between M strain females and P strain males may therefore have reduced fertility due to the disruption of development at two different stages: early F1 gonadal development and early F2 embryo development. These disruptions result in the previously described F1 gonadal dysgenesis (GD sterility) and F2 embryo lethality (EL sterility) respectively. The two morphologically distinct types of P-M-associated sterility differ in their patterns of response to F1 developmental temperature, and the temperature-sensitive period for EL sterility occurs considerably later in F1 development than for GD sterility. EL sterility is similar to SF sterility, which is associated with the I–R system of hybrid dysgenesis in that both result from death during early F2 embryogenesis. However, EL sterility differs from SF sterility in not being restricted to hybrids of the female sex and in showing different patterns of response to temperature and ageing in the F1 generation. Some implications of the existence of EL sterility for methods of strain classification in the I–R system are explored.
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- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984
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