Genetic basis of hybrid sterility between Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis
Abstract
Speciation is the underlying process that leads to formation of new species, and therefore is the basis of biodiversity. Genes involved in each stage of speciation, such as those involved in interspecies sterility, remain elusive. Male hybrid sterility and postzygotic isolation between Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis was examined in this study through backcrossing of female hybrids into each parental line (introgression), selecting for a sterile sperm phenotype, needle-eye sperm. Sperm phenotypes did not separate through backcrossing; instead, males presented with multiple sperm phenotypes. A relationship between the phenotypes observed and the potential genes involved was examined through whole genome sequencing and SNP analysis of the DNA of 20 introgressed male hybrid samples. One finding was SNPs for hybrid sperm sterility were species specific. Also, sperm sterility and heteromorphism appear to be controlled by many loci. Further analysis of SNPs isolated in this study has the strong potential to identify candidates for loci involved in formation of needle-eye sperm, and postzygotic male hybrid sterility in other species.