“Pokey”: A sex-linked recessive semi-lethal gene inTribolium castaneum which greatly prolongs the larval stage of development

Summary

• 1. Pokey (pok), a sex-linked recessive semi-lethal gene inTribolium castaneum has been described. This gene, which is located about 2 units to the left of divergent elytra (dve) on the X chromosome, is epistatic todve and resembles it somewhat in phenotypic expression.

• 2. Data were presented which show that thepok gene greatly delays development of both hemizygous males and homozygous females in late larval stages. Most of the juvenile lethality associated withpok also occurs in late larval stages. This mutant will be made available to persons interested in studying the developmental processes underlying these observations.

• 3. The presence of thepok gene in some previously reported experiments led to an erroneous conclusion that meiotic drive or gametic selection was operating in certain matings. These problems are discussed and resolved. Certain other aberrant segregations cannot, however, be explained by the presence ofpok in the experimental material.