Identification of Mullerian Chromosomal Elements in Hawaiian Drosophila by in situ DNA Hybridization

Abstract

We have hybridized Drosophila melanogaster DNA sequences to polytene chromosomes of D. silvestris. The results support Muller's hypothesis that the chromosomal elements have been largely conserved in the evolution of the genus Drosophila. As originally suggested by Carson, D. melanogaster elements X, 2L, 2R, 3L, and 3R appear to correspond to chromosomes X, 3, 2, 5, and 4, respectively, in D. silvestris and the Hawaiian picture-winged species.