Y chromosome of D. pseudoobscura is not homologous to the ancestral Drosophila Y

Science. 2005 Jan 7;307(5706):108-10. doi: 10.1126/science.1101675. Epub 2004 Nov 4.

Abstract

We report a genome-wide search of Y-linked genes in Drosophila pseudoobscura. All six identifiable orthologs of the D. melanogaster Y-linked genes have autosomal inheritance in D. pseudoobscura. Four orthologs were investigated in detail and proved to be Y-linked in D. guanche and D. bifasciata, which shows that less than 18 million years ago the ancestral Drosophila Y chromosome was translocated to an autosome in the D. pseudoobscura lineage. We found 15 genes and pseudogenes in the current Y of D. pseudoobscura, and none are shared with the D. melanogaster Y. Hence, the Y chromosome in the D. pseudoobscura lineage appears to have arisen de novo and is not homologous to the D. melanogaster Y.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Chromosomes / genetics
  • Chromosomes / physiology
  • DNA, Intergenic
  • Drosophila / genetics*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Female
  • Genes, Insect
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Genome
  • Introns
  • Male
  • Models, Genetic
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Pseudogenes
  • Translocation, Genetic
  • X Chromosome / genetics
  • X Chromosome / physiology
  • Y Chromosome / genetics*
  • Y Chromosome / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA, Intergenic