Linkage relationships of six enzyme Loci in interspecific sunfish hybrids (genus lepomis).

Backcross hybrids produced from the bluegill, the red-ear sunfish, and their F(1) interspecific hybrid have been analyzed for the inheritance of six enzyme phenotypes. Malate dehydrogenase A and B, tetrazolium oxidase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, skeletal muscle esterase, and liver alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase are all inherited in a mendelian manner as codominant alleles at nuclear loci. 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase are encoded by linked loci, undergoing recombination at a frequency of 15%-22%. No other case of linkage was observed. The absence of linkage between the homologous malate dehydrogenase loci is of particular interest. These interspecific hybrids appear to be very useful for studies of biochemical genetics.