Chromosome extraction and revision of linkage group 2 in Tribolium castaneum

Article Abstract:

A balancer chromosome is useful in the chromosome extraction of ethylmethanesulfonate-induced recessive mutations in a targeted area of the genome of the red flour beetle species, Tribolium castaneum. The technique upgrades and enhances the detail of the map of visible and lethal linkage group 2 markers of T. castaneum. The use of balancer chromosomes allows isolation of individual chromosomes from wild populations, improves maps based on molecular markers, and helps in manipulating and understanding the Tribolium genome.

Chromosome mapping, Mutation (Biology), Mutation

Assisted suicide of a selfish gene

Article Abstract:

A study was conducted to show that hybrid incompatible cofactors (H) are similar to medea elements in flour beetles. Incompatibility between H strains and medea strains were assumed to result from suppression by the H factor of the self-rescuing activity of the lethal medea genes. Results indicated that medea and H do not coexist in the same locales. Findings also showed that medea may act zygotically correlated with the bidirectionality of the lethal interaction between H and medea.

Suppression, Genetic, Suppressor mutation (Molecular genetics)

A hybrid incompatibility factor in Tribolium castaneum

Article Abstract:

Experimental studies reveal the presence of a hybrid incompatibility factor H, which causes variations in infertility and hybrid incompatibility (HI), among different samples of Tribolium castaneum, a flour beetle. Temperature and cross direction influence the incompatibility syndrome. Zygotic effects of certain chromosomal factors influence HI, which is a hybrid dysgenesis. Studies indicate the H factor to be an autonomous transposable element.

Genetic aspects, Hybridization