Molecular Population Genetics of Drosophila

Abstract

Knowledge of the nature, level and distribution of nuclear DNA sequence polymorphism present within natural populations is a prerequisite to a complete understanding of organic evolution. To date, studies of molecular variation within populations have been carried out primarily in one dipteran species, Drosophila melanogaster. The reason for this focus has been the practical one that elegant genetic tools are available for D. melanogaster, such as chromosome balancers that allow chromosomes to be manipulated and stocks made homozygous for genes or whole chromosomes. Also, an increasing number of molecular clones of genes with interesting and diverse effect have become available to use as molecular probes for restriction map variation and to isolate additional copies of the genes for direct sequencing. Furthermore, the ability to transform the germline of D. melanogaster with altered or foreign genes has increased the utility of this species for studies addressing the functional significance of naturally occur ring molecular variants (e.g., LaurieAlhberg and Stam 1987).