An experiment on recombination load inDrosophila melanogaster

Abstract

SUMMARYThis paper describes the results of an experiment to measure the effect on mean population fitness of recombination in the second chromosome ofDrosophila melanogaster. There was a small and non-significant effect of recombination in lowering egg-to-adult viability of heterozygotes for wild-type chromosomes. A large (7%) and significant effect of recombinant chromosomes on the fecundity ofCyfemale carriers was detected.