Elsevier

Developmental Biology

Volume 113, Issue 2, February 1986, Pages 443-448
Developmental Biology

Full paper
Germline autonomy of maternal-effect mutations altering the embryonic body pattern of Drosophila

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Abstract

Nine maternal-effect loci of Drosophila melanogaster were tested in germline mosaics to determine whether the wildtype gene activity is required in somatic or germline components of the maternal ovary. Mutations in these loci affect the anterior-posterior or dorso-ventral body pattern. In all nine loci (torso, trunk, exuperantia, vasa, valois, staufen, tudor, dorsal, Toll) a mutant genotype in the germ cells is sufficient to produce all aspects of the mutant embryonic phenotype, even when those germ cells are surrounded by wildtype somatic tissues.

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This research was supported by United States Public Health Service Grant 5RO1 HD15587 to Eric Wieschaus, by Swiss National Science Foundation Grant 3.460.79 to R. Nöthiger, and by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation.

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