Abstract
The β1-, β2-, and β3-tubulin genes have been mapped by in situ hybridization on the polytene chromosomes of 11 selected species (15 strains) belonging to theDrosophila montium subgroup. Although the hybridization pattern among the strains of the same species does not differ, this pattern is significantly different among the species. The β-tubulin genes in themontium subgroup seem to be organized in a cluster, or in a semi-cluster, or are completely dispersed. The clustered arrangement is found in the North-Oriental sibling speciesD. auraria, D. triauraria, andD. quadraria. The semi-clustered arrangement, wherein the β1 and β2 genes are located at the same locus while β3 is at a different one, appears in the South-Oriental speciesD. bicomuta, D. serrata, andD. birchii, as well as in the Afrotropical speciesD. diplacantha andD. seguyi. The complete separation of the genes is observed in the Indian speciesD. kikkawai andD. jambulina and in the Afrotropical speciesD. vulcana. Based on the above results, a possible mode of evolution of the β-tubulin genes in the montium subgroup is attempted. In addition, phylogenetic relationships among themontium species are discussed.
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Correspondence to: Z.G. Scouras
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Drosopoulou, E., Scouras, Z.G. The β-tubulin gene family evolution in theDrosophila montium subgroup of themelanogaster species group. J Mol Evol 41, 293–298 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01215176
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01215176