Polymorphisms in the genomic distribution of copia-like elements in related laboratory stocks ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary The genomic distributions of the copia, 297, 412, mdg 1, and B 104 transposable elements have been compared by the Southern technique among two Oregon R and four Canton SDrosophila laboratory lines that have been maintained separately for defined periods of a few years. The heterogeneity of the autoradiographic patterns suggests that multiple transposition events have occurred during the time of separation. The hypothesis that transposition could be induced by, variations of environmental parameters is discussed.Presented at the FEBS Symposium on Genome Organization and Evolution, held in Crete, Greece, September 1–5, 1986