Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Enzyme Flexibility in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

POLYMORPHISMS for genetically determined enzyme variants have been reported in humans1, Drosophila2 and several other groups of organisms, but there is no adequate explanation for their occurrence. Genetic polymorphisms can be maintained in numerous ways3, but Haldane4 and Mayr5 have emphasized that geographical or temporal changes in the environment could place a premium on metabolic flexibility and that selection for heterozygotes or alternating selection for different homozygotes might establish the necessary enzyme heterogeneity in the population.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Harris, H., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 174, 1 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lewontin, R. C., and Hubby, J. L., Genetics, 54, 595 (1966).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Ford, E. B., Ecological Genetics (Methuen, London, 1964).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Haldane, J. B. S., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 144, 217 (1955).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Mayr, E., Animal Species and Evolution (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1963).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  6. Grell, E. H., Jacobson, K. B., and Murphy, J. B., Science, 149, 80 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, M. J., Farr, A. L., and Randall, R. J., J. Biol. Chem., 193, 265 (1951).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Rasmuson, B., Nilson, L. R., and Rasmuson, M., Hereditas, 56, 313 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Grell, E. H., Jacobson, K. B., and Murphy, J. B., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 151, 441 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ursprung, H., and Carlin, L., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 151, 456 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jacobson, K. B., Science, 159, 324 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Northrop, J. H., J. Biol. Chem., 30, 181 (1917).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Dobzhansky, Th., and da Cuhna, B., Ecology, 36, 34 (1955).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. von Wartburg, J. P., and Schürch, P. M., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 151, 936 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GIBSON, J. Enzyme Flexibility in Drosophila melanogaster. Nature 227, 959–960 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/227959a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/227959a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing