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X-chromosomal heterosis in Drosophila melanogaster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

A. N. Wilton  and
J. A. Sved
A. N. Wilton
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia
J. A. Sved
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia
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Population cages were set up containing an X-chromosome balancer, and either a single wild-type chromosome(homozygous cages) or a mixture of wild-type chromosomes(heterozygous cages). The balancer chromosome was eliminated more rapidly from the heterozygous cages, indicating that chromosome heterozygotes are at an advantage over chromosome homozygotes. The disadvantage of X-chromosome homozygosity in the female is estimated to be about 40%. From earlier studies it is known that the average disadvantage of homozygosity for either of the two major autosomes of D. melanogaster is approximately 80%. Since these autosomes are both about twice as long as the X chromosome, the disadvantage per unit length is similar for both chromosomal types.

Both X-chromosomal and autosomal heterosis can be explained by either dominance or overdominance at individual loci. However, a dominance model can only explain the similarity if many of the X-linked loci (about 50%) are limited in expression to the female.

Type
Research Article
Information
Genetics Research , Volume 34 , Issue 3 , December 1979 , pp. 303 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

References

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