Polymorphism at the G6PD and 6PGD loci inDrosophila melanogaster

Abstract

SUMMARYThe influence of sodium octanoate on the polymorphism at the loci G6PD and 6PGD inDrosophila melanogasterwas investigated by studying its effect on egg hatchability, larval-to-adult survival and adult survival. The results demonstrate the existence of differences in fitness between the different genotypes of the two loci both for larval-to-adult survival and for adult survival. Furthermore, changes in enzyme activity of both enzymes, brought about by the sodium octanoate treatment, were observed. This makes it highly probable that the observed differences in fitness can be ascribed to the loci themselves and not to linked fitness genes. Finally, this study demonstrates the existence of strong interaction between the two loci with respect to fitness. Epistasis was demonstrated both in the larval-to-adult survival experiment and in the adult survival experiment.