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Phylogenetic and taxonomical relationships of the eight species in the melanogaster subgroup of the genus Drosophila (Sophophora) based on the electrophoretic mobility of the major chorion proteins and the eggshell ultrastructure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2001

Maria C. Kalantzi-Makri
Affiliation:
University of Athens, Department of Biology, Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15701, Greece
Ioannis P. Trougakos
Affiliation:
University of Athens, Department of Biology, Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15701, Greece
Triantafyllos P. Tafas
Affiliation:
University of Athens, Department of Biology, Division of Ecology and Systematics, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15701, Greece
John Sourdis
Affiliation:
Agricultural University of Athens, Department of Genetics, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece
Lukas H. Margaritis
Affiliation:
University of Athens, Department of Biology, Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15701, Greece
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Abstract

The eight species of the melanogaster species subgroup of the genus Drosophila were compared to each other with respect to: (a) the electrophoretic mobility of the major chorion proteins under SDS–PAGE; (b) the overall eggshell ultrastructure. The phylogenetic tree obtained using the first criterion showed that the eight species are divided into three clusters that contain the species of the melanogaster complex (D. melanogaster, D. sechellia, D. mauritiana and D. simulans), the two species of the yakuba complex (D. yakuba and D. teissieri) and the erecta complex species (D. erecta and D. orena). This clustering is in agreement to the generally accepted phylogeny of the subgroup based on exclusive criteria. The eggshell ultrastructure of the species at the main body of the egg revealed that the phylogenetically closely related species exhibit similar eggshell structure. We conclude that the criteria applied in this study could be eventually used in groups with unknown phylogeny to trace the phylogenetic relationships of the species.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1999 The Zoological Society of London

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