[Frequency of telomers in Drosophila melanogaster dependent on different modes of selection]

The frequencies of telomers were counted in chromosomes 3L and 3R in several strains of Drosophila melanogaster kept under different selection pressures for many generations. Observed frequencies were in most cases in good agreement with frequencies expected from Hardy-Weinberg-equilibria. Mode and direction of selection affected the frequencies of telomers on chromosome 3R. Equilibria of the telomer-structures were determined to a certain degree by different selection procedures. Terminal adhesions of 3L and 3R were more frequent when telomers were present.The main conclusion is that presence or absence of telomers are part of the genetic variability of populations, and that telomer frequencies are affected by selection in much the same way as other adaptive chromosome polymorphisms.