Genetic variability of a satellite sequence in the dipteran Musca domestica

A Musca domestica satellite sequence that hybridizes to multiple sites in the the genome has been characterised. The cloned sequence, with a structural organisation similar to other satellite DNA, contains at least 50 repeats of a 24 bp unit. This insect-specific satellite hybridizes to sites occurring at different locations and represents only a minor fraction of the M. domestica genome. Polymorphic fragments from DNA isolated from single houseflies have been obtained, generating individual specific DNA fingerprints. In addition, pedigree analysis confirms that the DNA fingerprint fragments are inherited in a Mendelian fashion and originate from multiple, apparently dispersed, loci.