Genetic architecture of hybrid male sterility in Drosophila: analysis of intraspecies variation for interspecies isolation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The genetic basis of postzygotic isolation is a central puzzle in evolutionary biology. Evolutionary forces causing hybrid sterility or inviability act on the responsible genes while they still are polymorphic, thus we have to study these traits as they arise, before isolation is complete.

Methodology/principal findings

Isofemale strains of D. mojavensis vary significantly in their production of sterile F(1) sons when females are crossed to D. arizonae males. We took advantage of the intraspecific polymorphism, in a novel design, to perform quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping analyses directly on F(1) hybrid male sterility itself. We found that the genetic architecture of the polymorphism for hybrid male sterility (HMS) in the F(1) is complex, involving multipl

SUBMITTER: Reed LK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2517651 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature