Haploidy and androgenesis in Drosophila.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Adrogenesis, development from paternal but not maternal chromosomes, can be induced to occur in some organisms, including vertebrates, but has only been reported to occur naturally in interspecific hybrids of the Sicilian stick insect. Androgenesis has not been described previously in Drosophila. We now report the recovery of androgenetic offspring from Drosophila melanogaster females mutant for a gene that affects an oocyte- and embryo-specific alpha-tubulin. The androgenetic exceptions are X,X diploid females that develop from haploid embryos and express paternal markers on all 4 chromosomes. The exceptional females arise by fusion of haploid cleavage nuclei or failure of newly replicated haploid chromosomes to segregate, rather than fusion of two inseminating sperm. The frequency of androgenetic offspring is greatly enhanced by a partial loss-of-function mutant of the NCD (nonclaret disjunctional) microtubule motor protein, suggesting that wild-type NCD functions is pronuclear fusion. Diploidization of haploid paternal chromosome complements results in complete genetic homozygosity, which could facilitate studies of gene variation and mutational load in populations.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Komma, DJ; Endow, SA

Published Date

  • December 5, 1995

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 92 / 25

Start / End Page

  • 11884 - 11888

PubMed ID

  • 8524868

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC40507

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0027-8424

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.92.25.11884

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States