Abstract
Three kinds of DDT-resistance with different genetic and physiological background are now known in the housefly:
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1)
DDT detoxication by DDT-dehydrochlorinase (DDT-ase) dependent on the geneD-ase on chromosome 5. This resistance can be overcome with DDT-F-DMC combinations.
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2)
an unknown detoxication mechanism dependent on chromosome 3 causing resistance that can be overcome with sesamex.
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3)
knock-down resistance brought about by the genekdr on chromosome 2, of an unknown physiological nature. This resistance cannot be overcome with the synergists mentioned.
The third factor,kdr, provides little resistance when present in the heterozygous condition. The geneD-ase can be present in several allelic forms, producing DDT-ases of widely varying activities. In this paper it is shown that alleles producing moderately active DDT-ases, which alone contribute little to resistance, have an important effect when combined with thekdr factor in the heterozygous condition, and act, therefore, as dominance-modifiers.
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Grigolo, A., Oppenoorth, F.J. The importance of DDT-dehydrochlorinase for the effect of the resistance geneKDR in the houseflyMusca domestica L. Genetica 37, 159–170 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01547127
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01547127