Abstract
We have developed an experimental system to assay conversion and reciprocal exchange between tandem repeats in Drosophila melanogaster. In this system, the recombining markers map 0.76 kb apart within the Adh gene, and the length of the repeated unit is 4.75 kb. Our results provide a preliminary record of germline frequencies of gene conversion and unequal exchange between these markers. Conversions involving dispersed repeats were not observed, and may be less frequent. This work demonstrates that conversion takes place at an appreciable frequency between tandem repeats in metazoan germline. It confirms that gene conversion can mediate homogenization of reiterated sequences in higher eukaryotes.
