Esterase Gene Frequency Differences and Linkage Equilibrium in DROSOPHILA VIRILIS Populations from Different Ecological Habitats

In order to study the gene frequency and linkage equilibrium in natural populations, about 5740 chromosomes of Drosophila virilis flies from eight natural populations were analyzed by the null strain method for two linked esterase loci. The frequencies of these esterase genes appear to depend on habitat characteristics rather than on geographical distribution. The populations kept a high degree of linkage equilibrium among them (D =.005).