Genetics, Vol 144, 1015-1025, Copyright © 1996

INVESTIGATIONS

DNA Sequence Variation at the Period Locus Reveals the History of Species and Speciation Events in the Drosophila virilis Group

H. Hilton and J. Hey
Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855-1059

The virilis phylad of the Drosophila virilis group consists of five closely related taxa: D. virilis, D. lummei, D. novamexicana, D. americana americana and D. americana texana. DNA sequences from a 2.1-kb pair portion of the period locus were generated in four to eight individuals from each of the five taxa. We found evidence of recombination and high levels of variation within species. We found no evidence of recent natural selection. Surprisingly there was no evidence of divergence between D. a. americana and D. a. texana, and they collectively appear to have had a large historical effective population size. The ranges of these two taxa overlap in a large hybrid zone that has been delineated in the eastern U.S. on the basis of the geographic pattern of a chromosomal fusion. Also surprisingly, D. novamexicana appears to consist of two distinct groups each with low population size and no gene flow between them.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				X. Maside and B. Charlesworth Patterns of Molecular Variation and Evolution in Drosophila americana and Its Relatives Genetics, August 1, 2007; 176(4): 2293 - 2305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Lankinen and P. Forsman Independence of Genetic Geographical Variation between Photoperiodic Diapause, Circadian Eclosion Rhythm, and Thr-Gly Repeat Region of the Period Gene in Drosophila littoralis J Biol Rhythms, February 1, 2006; 21(1): 3 - 12. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. F. McAllister Sequence Differentiation Associated With an Inversion on the Neo-X Chromosome of Drosophila americana Genetics, November 1, 2003; 165(3): 1317 - 1328. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. P. Vieira, P. A. Coelho, and J. Vieira Inferences on the Evolutionary History of the Drosophila americana Polymorphic X/4 Fusion From Patterns of Polymorphism at the X-Linked paralytic and elav Genes Genetics, August 1, 2003; 164(4): 1459 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E. Broughton and R. G. Harrison Nuclear Gene Genealogies Reveal Historical, Demographic and Selective Factors Associated With Speciation in Field Crickets Genetics, April 1, 2003; 163(4): 1389 - 1401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Vieira, B. F. McAllister, and B. Charlesworth Evidence for Selection at the fused1 Locus of Drosophila americana Genetics, May 1, 2001; 158(1): 279 - 290. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. M. Kliman, P. Andolfatto, J. A. Coyne, F. Depaulis, M. Kreitman, A. J. Berry, J. McCarter, J. Wakeley, and J. Hey The Population Genetics of the Origin and Divergence of the Drosophila simulans Complex Species Genetics, December 1, 2000; 156(4): 1913 - 1931. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. F. McAllister and G. A. T. McVean Neutral Evolution of the Sex-Determining Gene transformer in Drosophila Genetics, April 1, 2000; 154(4): 1711 - 1720. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. F. McAllister and B. Charlesworth Reduced Sequence Variability on the Neo-Y Chromosome of Drosophila americana americana Genetics, September 1, 1999; 153(1): 221 - 233. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. Hilton and B. S. Gaut Speciation and Domestication in Maize and Its Wild Relatives: Evidence From the Globulin-1 Gene Genetics, October 1, 1998; 150(2): 863 - 872. [Abstract] [Full Text]