Relationship between allozyme heterozygosity and rates of divergence

Abstract

SUMMARYThe relationship between locus variability and genetic identity is analysed in pooled data from a collection ofDrosophilaand vertebrate allozyme surveys. For vertebrates the analysis provides evidence that loci with high expected heterozygosity diverge at a faster rate than loci with low heterozygosity in comparisons involving pairs of populations and pairs of species. This relationship is not observed in comparisons ofDrosophilaspecies pairs.