ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the preliminary characterisation of some gene sequences which can be used for phylogenetic analysis and which might ultimately be useful in a DNA-based transformation system. It provides the cloning of four gene fragments: segments from the coding regions of the white eye-colour gene, the scarlet/topaz eye-colour gene, a chorion gene, and part of the transposase gene from numerous mariner-like transposable elements. The white eye colour gene has been extremely useful as a visible marker for transformation systems in Drosophila. The major chorion protein genes of Drosophila melanogaster are located in two clusters, one on the X chromosome and one on the third chromosome. In a FASTA search, most of the sequences recovered one of the partial mariner-like transposase genes or pseudogenes from the Genbank data base directory. With respect to the mariner transposon, it is evident from this sample that very large numbers of homologous sequences exist in the Bactrocera tryoni genome.
