Metaphase chromosomes of four species of the Drosophila nasuta subgroup.

Metaphase chromosomes of four species of the Drosophila nasuta subgroup, D. nasuta, D. kepulauana, D. kohkoa, and D. neveifrons, were analysed by the C banding method to clarify the chromosomal differentiation during speciation. Four species were different in heterochromatic regions of their chromosomes, especially microchromosomes of the fourth chromosomes and the Y chromosomes. Intraspecific variations of heterochromatic regions were also found among isofemale lines from various localities of D. nasuta, D. kepulauana, and D. kohkoa. Intraspecific variations of heterochromatic regions were not different from interspecific variations morphologically. From these results, the evolutionary process of heterochromatic regions was discussed.