Segregation distortion of X-linked marker genes in interspecific crosses between Mus musculus and M. spretus

Abstract

An interspecific cross was made between females of the C3H/HeHa.Pgk-1a inbred laboratory strain of Mus musculus and males of the separate species Mus spretus. The F1 males are sterile but the F1 females are fertile and they were backcrossed to both C3H and spretus males. Evidence is presented from the segregation of X-linked marker genes that the interspecific F1female has a genetically deleterious effect on the C3H X chromosome that is expressed as a male-lethal effect with the spretus Y chromosome but not with the musculus Y chromosome of C3H. Key words: interspecific crosses, mouse, segregation distortion.