Louis Levine

Interstrain fighting in male mice

Interstrain fighting between males of the STJ (albino) and the CBAJ (black-agouti) strains was studied under three different sets of conditions: (a) contests terminated after first victory using males isolated since weaning; (b) 30-minute contests with males isolated since weaning; (c) contests terminated after the first victory using socially experienced males. It was found that: n1. n(1) Under all three sets of conditions, the CBA males achieved fighting superiority. n n2. n(2) The CBA superiority in fighting was not evident in the first contests but developed rapidly thereafter. n n3. n(3) When the contests are conducted for a 30-minute period, rather than until first submission, the conditioning of the ST males to defeat occurs more rapidly. n n4. n(4) Social experience before fighting has different effects on the two types of males. It drastically reduces all aspects of aggressiveness of the ST males. Its only effects on the CBA males are to increase their attack latency and to extend the number of contests required to achieve their superiority in fighting. n n n n nThe above results are compared with those obtained elsewhere. The dependency of fighting ability upon the situation in which the behaviour is elicited is discussed.

A Conservative Procedure for the Estimation of Multiple Insemination in Drosophila

For certain Drosophila females, observation of the genotypes at an autosomal locus of a sample of their progeny confirms that they used the sperm from at least two males in fertilizing their offspring. In addition to these observably multiply mated females there are other females whose multiple matings are not apparent in the progeny sample. We relate the observed level of concurrent multiple paternity (CMP) to the true level of CMP by a multiplier which depends only on the gene frequencies and the progeny sample size. The simplicity of the relation between observed and estimated actual CMP is purchased at the cost of ignoring sperm displacement and triple mating. We argue that the resulting estimate still errs on the conservative side.

Mating behaviour of two inbred strains of mice

Summary Observations were made of the mating patterns of males from two inbred strains, ST/J and CBA/J, with females from both of these strains. Experiment I involved single males that were housed separately, while experiment II involved inter-strain pairs of males that were housed together. In three out of the four possible situations, the ST males had a significantly greater rate of mating success than the CBA males. In all four situations the mating pattern of the ST male was significantly different from that of the CBA male in at least two respects (thrusts per mount and genital lickings per mating). It is not possible, at this time, to attribute the greater mating success of the ST male to any specific aspects of his mating pattern. The mating success of each of the two types of males, under paired conditions with ST females, in this experiment corresponds closely to the reproductive success of these males in a previous experiment.

HLA-DQA1 and polymarker allele frequencies in two New York City Jewish populations.

Allele and genotype frequencies were determined for the HLA-DQA1 and Amplitype Polymarker loci (low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), glycophorin A (GYPA), hemoglobin G gammaglobin (HBGG), D7S8, and group-specific component (Gc)) in Hasidic and non-Hasidic Ashkenazi New York City Jewish subpopulations. For all loci tested, except HBGG, the 2 subpopulations meet the assumption of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Comparison of various allele and genotype frequencies for the Hasidic and the non-Hasidic groups showed no significant differences. Comparison of the various allele frequencies in the two subpopulations to another Caucasian group revealed significant differences at the HLA-DQA1 and D7S8 loci in the Hasidic group. These frequency data can be used for comparison to other populations and for frequency estimates in DNA profiling.

Interaction of Aggressive and Sexual Behavior in Male Mice

I. Eleven albino males (ST/J) and eleven black-agouti males (CBA/J) were fought interstrain, in round-robin fashion, once a week for eleven weeks in the presence of an estrus induced albino female (ST/J). 2. The CBA males were superior in both fighting ability and mating success. 3. A comparison of the present results with those of our previous fighting experiments conducted without females present, shows that the presence of an estrus female significantly reduced the aggressiveness of the CBA males while affecting the ST males only by increasing their attack latency. 4. A comparison of the present results with those of our previous mating experiments conducted when the two types of males are housed together permanently and given natural estrus ST females, shows that mating success varies with experimental conditions, for in the earlier experiment the ST males were superior in mating. 5. The influence of hereditary background on the behavior of mice and the dependency of fighting ability and mating success upon the situation in which these behaviors are elicited are discussed.

CHROMOSOMAL VARIATION IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA INHABITING NORTHERN MEXICO

Abstract Samples of 8 natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura inhabiting northern Mexico were cytogenetically analyzed. Twelve distinct chromosomal arrangements of the third chromosome were identified. Number of inversions at each locality varied from 6 to 8. A total of 468 third chromosomes were examined in the area of study, and relative frequencies of inversions in each population were calculated. The most common inversions in decreasing order of relative frequency were: TL, SC, OL, and CU; the other 8 inversions had frequencies <10%. Each locality had 3–4 inversions that accounted for ≤80% of the total. All populations were heterogeneous. Relative frequency of each inversion did not form a gradient along the transect studied. Unexpected was the presence of the ST inversion, as well as the incidence, in some populations, at a moderate frequency, of the inversion OL. Another exception was the increase in frequency of the EP inversion compared with previous collections in the area. More information from the region is needed.

DlS80 allele frequencies in Hasidic and non-Hasidic New York City Jewish populations

Abstract Allele frequencies were determined for the VNTR locus D1S80 in Hasidic and non-Hasidic Ashkenazi New York City Jewish subpopulations. Samples were amplified via the polymerase chain reaction and underwent genotyping using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the Hasidic population 14 alleles were observed as opposed to 19 alleles in the non-Hasidic community. Both populations were tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency data obtained can be used for comparison to other populations and for allele and genotype frequency estimates in genetic marker profiling of evidentiary specimens.

Maze running characteristics of two Drosophila species and their hybrids

Role des facteurs cytoplasmiques specifiques et des chromosomes sexuels sur les composantes du comportement en labyrinthe