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Selection on the fertility of translocation heterozygotes inDrosophila melanogaster. 1. The extent of the changes produced by selection

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Abstract

As part of a study on the suitability of translocations for insect pest control, artificial selection was applied for either higher or lower egg hatchability in each of the reciprocal matings between a translocation heterozygote and a translocation homozygote. In each of four selection lines, there was response to selection but, after 3–4 generations, limits were reached beyond which further selection gave no response. On reversing the directions of selection, the high and low lines rapidly exchanged their levels of egg hatchability and then established new plateaux. Relaxation of selection caused convergence towards the original unselected level. It is concluded that individuals with extremely high or low fertility were disfavoured by natural selection. Populations initiated from two different translocation homozygotes formed a stable polymorphism and after propagation in bottles for 10 generations, small increases were found in the fertility of the double translocation heterozygotes compared with the same genotype newly produced from unselected homozygote stocks. It is concluded that, under the conditions of the bottle cultures, natural selection favoured increase in fertility of the double heterozygotes.

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Author notes

  1. M. A. Hossain

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangla Desh

  2. C. F. Curtis

    Present address: W. H. O./I. C. M. R. Unit for the Genetic control of Mosquitos, 2, Ring Road, 110 014, New Delhi, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol, England

    M. A. Hossain, C. F. Curtis & W. P. Jaffe

Authors
  1. M. A. Hossain
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  2. C. F. Curtis
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  3. W. P. Jaffe
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Hossain, M.A., Curtis, C.F. & Jaffe, W.P. Selection on the fertility of translocation heterozygotes inDrosophila melanogaster. 1. The extent of the changes produced by selection. J Genet 61, 205–217 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986432

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986432

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