262 BRIEF REPORTS 
BRIEF REPORTS 
0. HALKKA, L. HALKKA, M. RAATIKAINEN and A. VASARAINEN: T r a n s m i s s i o n  
of g e n e s  f o r  c o l o u r  p o l y m o r p h i s m  i n  Philaenus. 
(Received January 3th, 19GS) 
Colour polymorphism in natural populations of Pilaenus spumarius (L.) 
(Hornoptera, Cercopidae) has been the subject of at  least 27 publications. In  
most parts of the world, a number of colour forms occur in each population, 
in such ratios that the moat frequent form, in the femaks, seldom exceeds 
10 O/o of the total of this sex. In southern Finland, the frequency of most of the 
coloar forms ranges between 3 and 5 per cent. Thus, in crossing experiments, 
if any of the colour forms is observed in three successive  generation,^ with a 
frequency significantly higher than 5 O i o ,  this implies that transmission is due 
to hereditary determinants either in the cytopla,sm or  in the chromosomes. 
In cros,sing meadow spittlebugs for genetic analysis, we started with 60 
pairs in the P generation. Of these, 24 yielded F1 progeny (HALKKA et al., 
1966). In  the F2 generation, only 9 progenies with very small sibships could 
be scored. These 9 progenies were enough, however, to 'demonstrate beyond 
doubt the existence of chromosomal determinants specific for each of the 
colour phenotypes. Six of the nine progenies re.sulted from sib matings in the 
F1 and their outcome is presented in the pedigrees below. 
The code numbers used for the crosses are the same as were used in our 
analysis of the F1 generation (HALXKA et al., 1966). The F1 and F2 progenieri 
of crosses 9 and 57 produced only t yp i ca  phenotypes. Obviously, in the males 
of the P generation, no  unexpressed colour genes were present. 
Cross 30, on the other hand, is intelligible if it is assumed that in the P 
generatioa male an unexpressed lop gene was present. This gene was inherited 
bv the F l  female parent and further by the single fernale which alone consti- 
tutes the F2. 
In cross 19, a tri gene, originally present in the P male, is transmitted 
through the F1 generation to an F2 female. 
Cross 59 shows transmission of tri and cross 41 transmission of lop through 
three generations in the female line. 
Three of the nine F2 progenies a re  the result of non-sib matings in the F1 
generation, and are given in the family trees below. 
BRIEF REPORTS 263 
(A) Ice ? X typ d miar X tri d 
Ice 9 tri d 
tri ? typ Q typ ? typ d 
lop 9 tri d 
tri d 
(B) lop ? X typ d tri ? X typ d 
(C) mar 9 x typ d mar 9 x tri d 
mar 9 typ d 
mar 9 
On case A, the tri gene is transmitted from P male to F1 male to F2 female, 
and the Ice gene from P female to F1 female. Occurrence of t y p  individuals 
in the F2 shows that both the F1 parents are heterogyzotes. 
In case B, the tri gene is transmitted from P female to F1 male to F2 male 
and the lop gene from P female to F1 female. 
In case C, the mar gene expressed in the 172 female was inherited either in 
the female line or through the F1 male, in which, as in general in males, this 
gene was not expressed. 
Summarizing, the pooled evidence of these crossings shows that: 
( 1 )  The colour genes (or perhaps "supergenes", as defined by E. B. FORD) 
are transmissible through 3 generations, from one sex to another as well as in 
the Same sex. 
(2) The genes are chromo5omal and not cytoplasmic. 
(3) Since Philaenus males are XO as regards the sex chromosomes and since 
tri is inherited from male to male, this gene must be autosomal. The other 
genes may be allelomorphs of fri. 
The genes determining colour polymorphism in Philaenus also regulate the 
responze of the meadow splittlebug to climatic and other factors in the natural 
environment. Recent papers on this subject include those of HUTCHINSON 
(1964), REREGOVOY (1966), HALKKA, K A A T I K A ~ N E N  and VILHASTE (1967), 
HALKKA, RAATIKAINEN, VASARAINEN and HEINONEN (1967) and FARISH and 
SCUDDER (1967). 
Department of Genetics, University of Helsinki, P. Rautatiekatu 13, Hel- 
sinki, and Department of Pest Investigation, AgricultuTal Research Centre, 
Tikkurila, Finland. 
L i t e ra tu re  cited 
BEREGOVOY, V. E. 1966. Variation of the natural populations of the meadow spittle- 
bug (Phifaenus spuninrius L. Hornoptera, Cercopidae). - Genetika 2: 134-144. 
(In Russian, with English summary.) 
FARISH, D. J. and SCUDDER, G. G. E. 1967. The polymorphism in Phifuenus spurnmius 
(L.) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) in British Colnmbia. - J. Entomol. SOC. British 
Columbia 64: 45-51. 
HALKKA, O., HEINONEN. L., RAATIKAINEN, M. and VASARAINEN, A. 1966. Crossing ex- 
periments with Phifaenus spuniarius (Hornoptera). - Hereditas 56: 406-312. 
HALKICA, O., RAATIKAINEN, hi., VASARAINEN, A. and HEINONEN, L. 1967.  Ecology and 
264 BRIEF REPORTS 
ecological genetics of Philoenus spumnrius (L.) (Homoptera). - Ann. Zool. 
Fenn. 4 :  1-18, 
HALKKA, O., KAATIKAINEN, M. and VILBASTE, J. 1967. Modes of halance in the poly- 
morphism of Philaenus spumnrius (I,.) (Homoptera). - Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. 
HUTCHINSON, G. E. 1964. A note on the polymorphism of Philaenus spumnrius (L . )  
A IV 207: 1-16. 
(Homopt., Cercopidae) in Britain. - Entomol. Month. Mag. 99: 175-178. 
I<.-H. GUSTAVSON and J. VERNEHOLT: T h e  X Y Y  s y n d , r o m e  i n  a p r e p u b e r -  
(Received January 12th, 1968) 
t a l  boy. 
The results of an XYY sex-chromosome constitution in man appears to be 
variable. Some cases are normally developed fertile males with normal intelli- 
gence (HAUSCHKA et al., 1962). In other cases there are abnormalities of the 
external genitalia (DUNN r t  nl., 1961; FRACCARO et al., 1962; VIGNETTI et nl., 
1964) and/or mental retardation (FRACCARO et al. 1962; WILTON and LEVER, 
1966; KICCI and MALACARNE, 1964; COURT BROWN et al., 1964). 
The XYY sex-chromosome constitution has gained increasing interest since 
JACOBS et 01. in 1965 reported an increased incidence of this karyotype among 
mentally subnormal patients with aggressive behaviour and tall stature. N o  
abnormal physical features distinguished these patients from normal men 
(PRICE et al., 1966) but their personalities showed extreme emotional in- 
stability combined with an  incapacity to tolerate even mild frustrations. They 
began their criminal activities at a very young age but there was no significant 
family history of crime OT mental illness (PRICE and WHATMORE, 1967). Recent 
investigations indicate that there is an  increased frequency of electroencephalo- 
graphic abnormalities and epilepsy in XYY patients (FORSSMAN, 1967 ; F o ~ s s -  
MAN and HAMHERT, 1968). 
There are only a few reports with detailed clinical descriptions of pre- 
pubertal patients with an  XYY sex-chromosome constitution (DUNN et al., 
1961; SANDBERG et al., 1963; KOSENOW and PFEIFFER. 1967). We have recently 
studied an 8 ‘/e year-old boy, who wa? admitted to the Paediatric clinic, Uni- 
v e r d y  Hospital, Uppsala, because of difficulties at school and clumsy move- 
ments. At the time of the patient’s birth his mother was 31 and his father 37 
years of age. Both parents were normal and in good health. A paternal first 
cou7in of the patient was mentally subnormal and of tall stature. The family 
history was otherwise negative. The mother gave no history of abortions. She 
had had two pregnancies; the first resulted in a normal girl, whose subsequent 
development was normal. The second pregnancy, resulting in the birth of the 
present patient, was uneventful. He was born 2 weeks after term. The delivery 
was normal. The birth weight was 4250 g and height 56 cm. The chiild’s psycho- 
motor development was somewhat retarded and he had obvious difficulties in 
keeping abreast at school. He was abnormally sensitive, lacked initiative, be- 
came very easily tired and had great difficulty in establishing contact with