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Drosophila mediopunctata P elements: a new example of horizontal transfer
E L Loreto1, V L Valente, A Zaha
1Departmento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
The Journal of Heredity
|January 5, 2002
Summary
The P element, a mobile genetic sequence, was found in the Drosophila mediopunctata fruit fly, indicating recent activity. Its presence suggests horizontal gene transfer between species, a novel finding for this P element subfamily.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- P elements are transposable genetic elements found in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Previous research identified P element homologous sequences in Drosophila mediopunctata.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of P elements in Drosophila mediopunctata.
- To determine the phylogenetic relationship of the D. mediopunctata P element to other known P elements.
- To elucidate the evolutionary origin of the P element in D. mediopunctata.
Main Methods:
- Genomic analysis to determine P element copy number in D. mediopunctata.
- Phylogenetic analysis to compare the D. mediopunctata P element with canonical P elements.
- Nucleotide sequence divergence analysis.
Main Results:
- The P element exists in 3-5 copies within the D. mediopunctata genome.
- One insertion site is fixed, while others are polymorphic, suggesting recent P element activity.
- The D. mediopunctata P element is a canonical P element with 2-5% nucleotide divergence from related elements.
- This marks the first discovery of a canonical P element outside the subgenus Sophophora.
Conclusions:
- The presence of a canonical P element in D. mediopunctata, outside its typical subgenus, is a significant finding.
- The incongruence between P element and host species phylogenies strongly suggests horizontal transfer as the mode of acquisition.
- This study provides evidence for interspecies horizontal transfer of P elements in the Drosophila genus.
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