Polygenic control of a mating signal in Drosophila

Adrian R G Pugh, Michael G. Ritchie*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recent findings show that traits which influence speciation in the melanogaster subgroup of Drosophila can be determined by relatively few loci and/or be sex-linked. Using backcrosses between D. simulans and D. mauritiana, we show that an acoustic mating signal which plays an important role in courtship (the interpulse interval of the 'lovesong') has a polygenic determination. There is no evidence of single genes of large effect, a disproportionate contribution of the sex chromosome or epistasis. The probability of finding single genes with a large effect on sexual isolation may vary with the mode of signalling involved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)378-382
Number of pages5
JournalHeredity
Volume77
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 1996

Keywords

  • courtship song
  • Drosophila
  • interpulse interval
  • speciation

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