Dynamics of correlated genetic systems. I. Selection in the region of the Glued locus of Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The dynamical behavior of chromosomal segments undergoing strong selection was investigated in four replicate populations of Drosophila melanogaster. This was accomplished by following the joint behavior of allozyme markers at the loci phosphoglucomutase and esterase C, adjacent to the recessive lethal locus Glued, during and following the course of selection against Glued. The results show strong selection at other loci in the region of the marked segment. Examination of the joint dynamic of the two markers indicates that there must be more than one, and probably several, selected loci in the region under observation, with large epistatic effects. The mode of selection on the segment often results in excess heterozygosity at the markers, but does not appear to be constant in time. It is concluded that the density of selective effects in the region under study is substantial.