Differences in P element population dynamics between the sibling species Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans.
Patterns of P element establishment and evolution were compared in populations of D. melanogaster and D. simulans. For each species, mixed populations were initiated with M strain flies lacking P elements together with P strain flies having similar P element copy numbers and phenotypes. The mixed populations were subsequently maintained under similar environmental conditions. On the basis of gonadal sterility assays, P elements tended to be significantly more active in D. melanogaster than in D. simulans populations. This activity difference between the two species was positively associated with P element copy number, determined by restriction enzyme analysis, and transposition frequency, as determined by a transposition assay. Host factors are the most likely explanation for the observed species variation. Difficulty of establishment may be a factor determining the absence of P elements in natural populations of D. simulans.
Kimura
K
K
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
Kidwell
M G
MG
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004330:Drosophila / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007246:Infertility / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013045:Species Specificity
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements