22 Eyl 2025 Pazartesi
Distinctive evidence for the impact of white eye gene mutation causing diminished mating propensity in Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract : Single gene mutation resulting into an observable phenotype may cause certain impact on the activity of the Drosophila flies. Hundreds of such mutation spread on the on the four different chromosomes (haploid set) of Drosophila melanogaster has been documented. Their autosomal or sex chromosome locations and inheritance pattern have also been described by earlier researchers. White eye gene locus is a sex linked one that follows criss-cross pattern of inheritance. Flies with white eyes are devoid of the red pigment and these flies except for eye colour difference are normal for other morphological features. The genetics and physiology of this locus has enormously been studied in D. melanogaster. In this study, we aimed to see the mating propensity of red eyed (wild type) and white eyed (mutant) flies reared under three different light–dark conditions. Since varying light-dark conditions influence the circadian clock of the flies, it was believed that light-dark phase variation may have distinctive impact on the courtship and mating behaviour of the flies. The results of the study showed that red eyed flies have significantly high mating success than white eyed flies in all the three varying light-dark conditions. Preference of males of the two strains (red and white eyed) towards females do indicate higher mating propensity of red eyed males compared to white eyed males. Further, it is also evident that the red eyed females are more receptive than white eyed females, as a consequence of which, even heterogamic mating were found to exceed homogamic mating when white eyed males were subjected for male choice experiments.