Drosophila hybrids in nature: proof of gene exchange between sympatric species.
Genetic studies of two closely related endemic Hawaiian species show that in one area of sympatry about 2 percent of the naturally occurring individuals are hybrids. More than 20 times this many would be expected if the population consisted of a single panmictic unit. Despite hybridization, natural selection appears to maintain the essential integrity of each separate gene pool.
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006254:Hawaii; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity