Molecular mapping of genetic and chromomeric units in Drosophila melanogaster.

We have used a set of overlapping cloned segments defining a 315 kb (X 10(3) base-pairs) region of Drosophila melanogaster chromosomal DNA to map the sequences associated with the polytene band-interbands (chromomeric units) and with the lethal complementation groups contained within this region. The molecular map positions of the 13 +/- 1 chromomeric units from the 87D5-6 to 87E5, 6 region of the third chromosome were determined by in situ hybridization of selected segments to the polytene chromosomes. The length of the largest chromomeric unit within the 315 kb region is approximately 160 kb, while that for the smallest is less than 7 kb and may be as short as 3 kb. By mapping the breakpoints of deletions within the 315 kb region, we have located its 12 lethal complementation groups, which include the genes coding for acetylcholinesterase (Ace) and xanthine dehydrogenase (rosy). Comparison of the two molecular maps indicates a one-to-one topographical correlation between the genetic and chromomeric units.