Biopolymers and cell. 2005; 21 (5): 419 - 424

Hybrid dysgenesis characteristics in Drosophila virilis instability systems

O. W. Zhuk, M. A. Kursa, B. V. Kovalev, I. A. Kozeretska

A comparative analysis of dysgenic traits of P-M-like strains containing retrotransposon Penelope in D. virilis was carried out. Main characteristics of hybrid dysgenesis in offsprings of the first and second generation of dysgenic traits were studied: the level of gonadal reduction, the imago sterility, the availability of recombination events in males and sex chromosomes non-disjunction, the mutations and morphosis spectrum. The presence of retrotransposon Penelope copies in the tested strain was detected and the availability of Penelope shown to be a necessary but not determinative factor in forming certain features of hybrid dysgenesis.

Key words: hybrid dysgenesis, dysgenic recombination, gonadal reduction, retrotransposon Penelope.