On the degree of genetic divergence in Drosophila ananassae populations transferred to laboratory conditions

Twelve natural populations of Drosophila ananassae were sampled and laboratory populations were derived. All the populations were maintained in food bottles in the laboratory for ten generations by transferring fifty flies (females and males in equal number) in each generation. After ten generations they were analysed chromosomally to determine the frequency of different chromosome arrangements. The results show that there is significant variation in the frequencies of chromosome arrangements and in the level of inversion heterozygosity. Although some of the populations became mo-nomorphic for certain inversions, in general all populations remained polymorphic even after ten generations. The degree of genetic differentiation in the populations after they were transferred to laboratory conditions has been estimated by calculating genetic identity and distance between the initial and final populations based on the differences in chromosome arrangement frequencies. The estimates of I and D suggest that there is considerable variation in the degree of genetic divergence in D. ananassae populations. Some populations have remained unchanged while others have diverged to a considerable extent.     

A gene (Bmn) controllingβ-mannosidase activity in the mouse is located in the distal part of chromosome 3

A gene (Bmn) with a major effect on -mannosidase activity in kidney and liver of the house mouse was revealed by assay with the synthetic substratep-nitrophenyl--d-mannoside. Activity is low in DBA/2J and CSB mice and high in C57BL/6J mice. By the use of the BXD series of recombinant inbred strains and by crosses between C57BL and CSB, it was possible to map the gene to the distal part of chromosome 3 by demonstration of linkage to a gene for cadmium resistance,cdm, as well as to theAdh-3 locus.This work was supported by Swedish Natural Science Research Council Project B-BU 2992-108.     

Genetic variability in mitochondrial DNA in a regional population of the great tit (Parus major)

Genetic variation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in 18 great tits (Parus major) from three neighboring localities in Sweden was investigated with eight tetranucleotide restriction endonucleases. The 18 individuals could be separated into 13 different maternal lineages. The high number of female lineages present in this regional population contrasts with a low level of sequence divergence between the different mtDNA clones, with a mean of 0.19% sequence divergence between all individuals. There was no obvious spatial structuring of mtDNA clones among the three localities. The presence of a high number of different clones with a low degree of sequence divergence could be explained by the effects of a large long-term effective population size, with the mtDNA clones having diverged about 25,000–200,000 years ago.This study was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council, the Erik Philip-Sörensen Foundation, and the Nilsson-Ehle Foundation.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in dairy and beef cattle at the growth hormone and prolactin loci

Two bovine populations, a Holstein-Friesian dairy stock and a synthetic (Baladi X Hereford X Simmental X Charolais) beef stock, were screened for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) at the growth hormone and prolactin genes. Most RFLPs at the growth hormone gene are apparently the consequence of an insertion/deletion event which was localized to a region downstream of the structural gene. The restriction map for the genomic region including the growth hormone gene was extended. Two HindIII RFLPs at the growth hormone locus, as well as several RFLPs at the prolactin gene, seemed to be the consequence of a series of point mutations. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility that minor genomic variability underlies quantitative genetic variation.     

Size variation in Brachionus plicatilis resting eggs

The effect of temperature and salinity on resting egg size of two Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifers) clones was investigated. Clones were selected according to their different behaviour in laying resting eggs: one clone ejects them, whereas they remain inside the females body in the other clone. The difference in resting eggs size between the two clones is noticeable, although the difference is not as great as that between female body size. An important temperature-salinity interaction on resting egg size has been observed. The general inverse relationship between size and temperature is only true at lower temperatures. At high temperatures size varies around the mean although could be greater than at intermediate temperatures. This is more evident at the intermediate salinity tested which is considered to be the closest to the optimum in our experiments. This pattern of variation suggests that mean size is bigger than expected, in relation to temperature and salinity, when these factors have values close to the extremes of their range, normally found in nature, and to which adaptative mechanisms can evolve. Size is bigger at the salinity — temperature low - low and high - high combinations which are the most commonly found in the temperate environments.     

Molecular genetics of rotifers: preliminary restriction napping of the mitochondrial genome of Brachionus plicatilis

Methods are presented to extract and purify mitochondrial DNA from the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. The mtDNA obtained is of sufficient purity for digestion with restriction endonucleases. EcoR I restriction patterns are presented for 4 geographically separated clones. A restriction map based on digestion with 5 different restriction enzymes is included for one of these clones. Finally, use of mtDNA analysis for studies on the population structure and biogeography of rotifers is discussed.     

Genetic variation and distances of five Italian native sheep breeds

Genetic distances among five of the most important Italian native sheep breeds were estimated by using gene frequencies of four blood group and seven blood protein loci and by three different computing methods. The values of the three distance matrices were highly correlated. Genetic distances were found within the range values reported in the literature for local breeds. Shorter distances fitted the historical evidence of migrations.     

Host plant variation in mortality of the leaf-folding sawfly on the arroyo willow

Abstract. 1. We tested the hypothesis that survival and sources of mortality of the leaf-folding sawfly ( Phyllocolpa sp.) varied significantly among host plants of the arroyo willow ( Salix lasiolepis Bent ham).
2. Survival of the leaf folder differed among field and potted willows in a common environment in two of three cases, and sources of mortality differed among plants in four of five cases.
3. Egg mortality differed among field plants but not among the potted willow plants.
4. Larval mortality and parasitism differed among field and potted willows in 2 years, and appeared to be compensatory mortality sources.
5. Leaf folder density among plants was not generally correlated with percentage of leaf folds with no egg (galls formed but no subsequent oviposition), percentage survival, or percentage mortality, indicating a general lack of density dependence.
6. The proportion of folds with no egg oviposited differed significantly among field and potted plants, and was only correlated with survival or sources of mortality in one of three years.
7. The data support the hypothesis that host plant genotype affects the interaction of the leaf folder with its natural enemies, and thus represents a three trophic level interaction.