Linkage disequilibrium analysis of chromosomal inversion polymorphisms of Drosophila.

The linkage disequilibrium pattern analysis is a method that allows one to detect present and past events of selection. We applied it to our data on the inversions of Drosophila mediopunctata and to published data of Drosophila subobscura, which are systems probably under complex modes of selection. The method gave meaningful results showing that it might be an excellent exploratory tool to identify problems worthy of further study. It is also suggested that it can be used as a criterion to determine the roots of inversion phylogenies.