Population genetics of Drosophila amylase. II. Geographic patterns in D. pseudoobscura. 1979

J R Powell

Morph frequencies of three related polymorphisms were determined in ten natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura. They are the well-known inversion polymorphism of the third chromosome and the polymorphism for alpha-amylase produced by the structural gene Amy (which resides on the third chromosome). The third polymorphism was for tissue-specific expression of Amy in adult midguts; a total of 13 different patterns of activity have been observed. The preceding paper (Powell and Lichtenfels 1979) reports evidence that the variation in Amy expression is under polygenic control. Here we show that the polymorphism for midgut patterns occurs in natural populations and is not an artifact of laboratory rearing.--From population to population, Amy allele frequencies and frequencies of inversions belonging to different phylads vary coordinately. The geographic variation in alpha-amylase midgut activity patterns is uncorrelated with that for the other two types of polymorphisms. Furthermore, no correlation was detected between activity pattern(s) and Amy genotype(s) when both were assayed in the same individual.--These results imply that whatever the evolutionary-ecological forces are that control frequencies of the structural gene variants, they are not the same factors that control the frequencies of polymorphic genetic factors responsible for the tissue-specific expression of the enzyme.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011110 Polymorphism, Genetic The regular and simultaneous occurrence in a single interbreeding population of two or more discontinuous genotypes. The concept includes differences in genotypes ranging in size from a single nucleotide site (POLYMORPHISM, SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE) to large nucleotide sequences visible at a chromosomal level. Gene Polymorphism,Genetic Polymorphism,Polymorphism (Genetics),Genetic Polymorphisms,Gene Polymorphisms,Polymorphism, Gene,Polymorphisms (Genetics),Polymorphisms, Gene,Polymorphisms, Genetic
D004330 Drosophila A genus of small, two-winged flies containing approximately 900 described species. These organisms are the most extensively studied of all genera from the standpoint of genetics and cytology. Fruit Fly, Drosophila,Drosophila Fruit Flies,Drosophila Fruit Fly,Drosophilas,Flies, Drosophila Fruit,Fly, Drosophila Fruit,Fruit Flies, Drosophila
D005787 Gene Frequency The proportion of one particular in the total of all ALLELES for one genetic locus in a breeding POPULATION. Allele Frequency,Genetic Equilibrium,Equilibrium, Genetic,Allele Frequencies,Frequencies, Allele,Frequencies, Gene,Frequency, Allele,Frequency, Gene,Gene Frequencies
D000483 Alleles Variant forms of the same gene, occupying the same locus on homologous CHROMOSOMES, and governing the variants in production of the same gene product. Allelomorphs,Allele,Allelomorph
D000681 Amylases A group of amylolytic enzymes that cleave starch, glycogen, and related alpha-1,4-glucans. (Stedman, 25th ed) EC 3.2.1.-. Diastase,Amylase
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
Copied contents to your clipboard!