title: Is the Y chromosome of Drosophila an evolved supernumerary chromosome?
abstract: The Y chromosomes of most Drosophila species are necessary for male fertility but they are not involved in sex determination. They have many puzzling properties that resemble the effects caused by B chromosomes. Classical genetic and molecular studies reveal substantial affinities between Y and B chromosomes and suggest that the Y chromosomes of Drosophila are not degenerated homologues of the X chromosomes, but rather that their Y chromosomes evolved as specialized supernumeraries similar to classical B chromosomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Science, Catholic University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hackstein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hochstenbach
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hauschteck-Jungen
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Beukeboom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005298:Fertility; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006570:Heterochromatin