Comparative studies on genetic differentiation between two closely related species of Drosophila, D. bipectinata and D. malerkotliana
Data files
Nov 18, 2025 version files 4.88 KB
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Raw_data_for_frequencies_(D._bipectinata).csv
1.55 KB
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Raw_data_for_frequencies_(D._malerkotliana).csv
1.46 KB
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README.md
1.86 KB
Abstract
Drosophila bipectinata and D. malerkotliana are two closely related species that share common ecological niches throughout their distribution zone, which comes under the Oriental-Australian zoogeographical regions. These two species have been found to share several common genetic characteristics, and due to this, they may experience interspecific mating under laboratory conditions and produce hybrid progeny. The population genetic work on these two species has been inadequately done by considering inversions and enzyme polymorphisms. We decided to consider the genetic polymorphism involving commonly persistent chromosomal inversions, allozymes, and microsatellite variants of the two species to envisage genetic differentiation among the natural populations of these two species sampled from distant localities of Indian cities. The results of this study indicate that the Indian populations of both species are genetically structured. There exists graded variation (clinal variation) in the level of heterozygosity from north to south, as an increase in the observed heterozygosity prevailed from north to south. This trend was observed in the populations of both species, which hints towards similar genetic changes being experienced by their members all along their distribution area. The phylogenetic trees based on the extent of genetic identity between the paired populations of these two species portray two distinct clusters, one for the two populations of the north and the other for the remaining populations of the south. Further, through this study, it can be stated with certainty that there exists ‘isolation by distance’ as the north and south populations of both species genetically significantly vary from each other.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hmgqnk9xt
Description of the data and file structure
In total, thirteen natural populations of Drosophila were sampled from different localities of India. D. bipectinata flies were collected from seven places, two from north India (MBD and VNS) and five from south India (MDR, RMM, NGC, TVM, and KKR), whereas six populations of D. malerkotliana were procured, two from north India (LKO and VNS) and four from south India (MDR, RMM, NGC, and TVM). These populations were separated substantially by distance, with a larger distance between the north and south populations (Table 1). The sampling was done only during the months of August and September due to the reason that July to September end become the most favorable period for high flush of Drosophila populations in the northern part of India and in the southern peninsula of India, although, flies are available throughout the year but to avoid time variation, same time slot was chosen for the collection of flies.
Files and variables
- Raw_data_for_frequencies_(D._bipectinata).csv
- Raw_data_for_frequencies_(D._malerkotliana).csv
In both the files containing raw data for the frequencies, column header kariyotypes represent the kariyotypes for inversions, three different enzyme loci, i.e., Ao. Est and Xdh and four different markers (DAN 45, DAN 73, DAN 76, and DAN 79) in case of microsatellites. The rest of the column represents the populations (LKO, VNS, MDR, RMM, TVM, and NGC). Row represents the frequencies of the two variants of a locus.
Code/software
Paleontological Statistics (PAST) -3 software (https://past.en.lo4d.com).
