The genetic control of meiotic drive acting on the B-chromosome of Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Abstract

Crosses between populations with and without B-chromosomes were made, and backcrossed to the non B parent for two generations. No polygenic differences in male or female meiotic transmission were found, but a modifier of meiotic drive segregated in the experiment, drastically reducing female transmission rate. We tentatively interpret this as evidence of a revolutionary race between the B-chromosome and the A genome. © The Genetical Society of Great Britain.