Selection in a polymorphism with a rare allele

✍ Scribed by R. Costa; J. A. Beardmore

• Book ID: 104624489
• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1980
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 378 KB
• Volume: 54
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-6707
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00055987

✦ Synopsis

Two densities, two temperatures and three genotypic compositions were used to study selection in cultures of Drosophila polymorphic for Est-6. The alleles used were the common Est6 s and Est6 VF which has a frequency of about 0.03 in Italian natural populations. Significant effects of all variables on viability were seen and interaction of both the environmental variables with genotypic composition occurs.

While frequency-dependent selection is demonstrated in many combinations it is least evident at the genotypic composition (pVF = 0.2) closest to that found in nature where heterotic selection appears to be important. The significance of these findings for the maintenance of the polymorphism in nature is briefly discussed.