Genetic uniformity in two populations of Drosophila melanogaster as revealed by filter hybridization of four-nucleotide-recognizing restriction enzyme digests.

A filter hybridization method is described for identifying restriction-site and insertion/deletion variation by using restriction enzymes that recognize four-nucleotide sequences and denaturing polyacrylamide gels for separating fragments. Eighty-seven lines of Drosophila melanogaster representing two natural populations were surveyed over a 2.7-kilobase region encompassing the alcohol dehydrogenase locus. Fifty distinct haplotypes were identified from 17 restriction-site and 11 insertion/deletion polymorphisms and from one allozyme polymorphism. There was no evidence for genetic differentiation between an East-Coast and a West-Coast (North American) sample. This technique has widespread applications in screening for DNA polymorphism.