Resistance to meiotic drive at theMDlocus in an Indian wild population ofAedes aegypti

Abstract

Females from an Indian wild population of Aedes aegypti were crossed to males carrying the sex ratio distorter factor MD which shows meiotic drive. Progenies from F1 males were tested for sex ratio distortion, i.e. the chromosomes from the wild females were screened for their resistance to the action of MD. The distribution of sex ratio in the progenies of different F1 males indicated a polymorphism in the wild population for resistant and sensitive variants of the X chromosome. Seven discrete categories of X appear to exist, associated with sex ratios ranging from 50% ♀ to less than 1·25% ♀. The overall level of resistance varied slightly but significantly in different parts of a town. The results are discussed in relation to the use of sex ratio distortion for genetic control of mosquitoes.