Genome Size Varaiation in D. melanogaster

Abstract

As yet significant portions of the genetic variation in complex traits have not been explained with genome wide association experiments; and this has led to the search for the "missing heritability". Our data support the hypothesis that variation in genome size may account for some of the missing heritability. We measured female genome sizes for 34 Drosophila melanogaster inbred strains that derived from isofemale lines established from a natural population in Raleigh, NC, in addition to a group of 40 strains artificially selected for increased and decreased body size. We provide the first evidence that significant intraspecific genome size variation exists among these Drosophila melanogaster lines and that selection has a downsizing effect on the extent of variation.