Chromosome inversion polymorphism in Drosophila pseudoobscura
D.
pseudoobscura
is a wild relative
of the common laboratory fruit fly, D. melanogaster. The
Standard
(ST) arrangement
of the third chromosome is characterized by a particular polytene
banding pattern, due to alternating euchromatic
(light) and heterochromatic (dark) gene regions. A
paracentric inversion involving
about
a third of the chromosome produces the Arrowhead (AR)
arrangement.
Chromosome pairing in meiosis requires formation of a
characteristic inversion
loop in order to bring homologous gene segments (region
C-G)
together.
Individuals with two different third chromosomes are called heterokaryons
(by analogy with "heterozygotes"; individuals with identical
chromosomes
are homokaryons). Other chromosome polymorphisms (such
as Chiricahua
[CH]) involve multiple inversions, and
inversions-within-inversions,
resulting in complicated loops (below).
Th Dobzhansky's
decades-long study of polytene patterns in Drosophila was
the first direct evidence of extensive genetic polymorphism in a
wild species. He was able to link pattern frequencies with
adaptive changes in wild populations, including altitude and
seasonal changes in temperature and aridity.