Larval copia RNA levels are variable among Drosophila species, transcripts are detected in D.melanogaster, but not in D.simulans, D.mauritiana, D.sechellia, D.yakuba, D.erecta or D.willistoni. Size variation mapping to the LTR and ULR in naturally occurring copia elements is likely generated by duplication and is of functional significance.
Phylogenetic analysis indicates that although D.melanogastercopia elements are distinct from those of D.simulans and D.mauritiana, the copia elements of these latter two species are not distinguishable from one another.
Larval copia RNA levels are variable among Drosophila species, transcripts are detected in D.melanogaster, but not in D.simulans, D.mauritiana, D.sechellia, D.yakuba, D.erecta or D.willistoni. Size variation mapping to the LTR and ULR in naturally occurring copia elements is likely generated by duplication and is of functional significance.
Phylogenetic analysis indicates that although D.melanogaster copia elements are distinct from those of D.simulans and D.mauritiana, the copia elements of these latter two species are not distinguishable from one another.
copia elements are found in D.simulans, D.mauritiana and D.melanogaster but copia-encoded transcripts are only found in D.melanogaster. copia transcript level variation is found among natural populations of D.melanogaster : this is not due to variable copia copy number but may be due to the action of trans-acting controls.