Search for differences among t haplotypes in distorter and responder genes

Transmission ratio distortion due to the mouse t complex is though to be due to harmful effects of trans-acting distorter genes acting on a responder, with the t complex form of the responder being relatively resistant to this harmful action of the distorters. Previous work had indicated that naturally occurring t haplotypes differed in their responders or in distorters lying near the responder, with the result that animals doubly heterozygous for two responder-carrying haplotypes transmitted these haplotypes unequally. In the present work t haplotypes could be divided into three types on the basis of their transmission when doubly heterozygous with the responder-carrying partial haplotype tlowH. The majority, t0, t6, tw1, tw2 and tw73, were transmitted equally with tlowH, a second group, including tw5 and two haplotypes derived from it, were transmitted less frequently than tlowH, and the single member of a third group, tw32, was transmitted in excess of tlowH. This last result suggests that the underlying differences are in the responder itself, rather than in the distorters. Search for differences among t haplotypes in distorters produced some equivocal results possibly resulting from effects of genetic background. In particular, results of others suggesting presence of a fourth distorter, Tcd-4, were not confirmed.