Abstract
It is generally agreed that recombination offers a long-term evolutionary advantage1,2. It is argued, however, that because genetic variability exists for recombination rates in natural populations, response to immediate demands for adaptation should result in reduced recombination regardless of the long-term consequences. Nevertheless, genetic recombination persists. Numerous models have been developed to examine this fact1,2. There exists, however, a notable lack of empiricism on the recombination question. Here we demonstrate in Drosophila that the response of a polygenic character (DDT resistance) to directional selection is sufficiently correlated with the genetic variability generated by recombination to bring about a corresponding increase in recombination rate. We draw attention to the relationship of these results to existing models, notably the ‘hitch-hiking’ model3.
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Flexon, P., Rodell, C. Genetic recombination and directional selection for DDT resistance in Drosophila melanogaster. Nature 298, 672–674 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298672a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/298672a0
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