Abstract

Samples from six natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster were collected and their genetic composition was analyzed. The chromosomes obtained from each population were later exposed to irradiation and examined further. From these experiments, offspring production, which represents fecundity, was measured. For our analysis, chromosomes from each population were classified into different categories according to the percentage of offspring produced. A total of 36 two-tailed statistical tests were conducted to compare the population means and evaluate their similarities and differences. Among these, 15 tests compared normal genes with normal genes between populations, 15 tests compared deleterious genes with other deleterious genes, and 6 tests compared normal genes with deleterious genes. The frequencies of different gene categories-lethal, semilethal, subvital, subnormal, quasinormal, normal, and supernormal- were estimated for each population. The results showed clear differences in the distribution of these gene categories, confirming that the six populations are genetically distinct.

Keywords

genes