Chromosomal analysis of DDT-resistance in a long-term selected population of Drosophila melanogaster

The genetic basis of DDT-resistance was studied in a population of Drosophila melanogaster. This population was unique in that it had been continually selected for DDT-resistance since 1952 and had achieved a very high level of resistance. The genetic basis of resistance was studied by means of a chromosomal analysis. Fifteen combinations of resistant and control chromosomes were tested using a time-based DDT test. The analysis of the data showed that resistance was multifactorial with each of the three major chromosomes involved. Dominant and recessive second and third chromosome effects were found to be much more important than those of the first chromosome, which had no detectable recessive effects. Second and third chromosome resistance genes showed incomplete dominance. The average dominance of the second chromosome was much less than that of the third chromosome. These large-scale differences between chromosomes' effects and average dominance may indicate that a small number of resistance genes are involved. Two significant interactions between chromosomes were found. Scaling difficulties make the interactions difficult to interpret without further data. It seems possible that positive interactions between resistance have been developed by the long-term directional selection in this population.