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Chromosome polymorphism and sex determination in a wild population of tsetse

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Abstract

SEX in the Diptera is determined by a variety of genetic mechanisms ranging from the simple condition of male or female heterogamety to complex polygenic systems1. Studies of tsetse flies have shown the males of all species examined to be heterogametic XY with a heteropycnotic Y chromosome2,3. Such cytological heterogamety is found in many dipteran species but the presence of ‘sex’ chromosomes does not necessarily mean that they are involved in sex determination4. Although there have been no studies specifically related to sex determination in Glossina, it has been postulated that the system is similar to that found in Drosophila5. I report here on a natural population of Glossina palpalis palpalis (R-D) found to contain a high incidence of aneuploids, the composition of which may be used to explain the mechanism of sex determination in the genus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research, PMB 2077, Kaduna, Nigeria

    IAN MAUDLIN

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  1. IAN MAUDLIN
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MAUDLIN, I. Chromosome polymorphism and sex determination in a wild population of tsetse. Nature 277, 300–301 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277300a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/277300a0

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