A model of the negative correlation between male recombination and transmission frequency in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

A model is proposed to account for the phenomenon of negative correlation between male recombination (theta) and transmission frequency (kappa) in Drosophila melanogaster. The model assumes that, in some stage or stages of development, the male recombination elements cause a particular event that does not occur in normal males and that this event, in turn, induces with certain probabilities male recombination and/or sperm dysfunction. The regression equations of theta on kappa predicted by the model were compared with those actually observed. There was generally excellent agreement between them.