Summary
1. From a base population showing some flies with more than the normal 4 scutellar chaeta phenotype directional selection was carried out and lead to a line with many flies having 6 chaetae. 2. Selection was then practised for 6 chaetae such that the extra 2 chaetae were in the anterior left and anterior right positions on the scutellum. This lead to a line with most flies having this chaeta number and pattern, therefore showing some canalization. 3. Additive genetic activity controlling the increased chaeta number was found on all the 3 major chromosomes.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Fraser, A. S.: Variation of scutellar bristles in Drosophila I. Genetic leakage. Genetics 48, 497–514 (1963).
Fraser, A. S.: Variation of scutellar bristles in Drosophila XV. Systems of modifiers. Genetics 57, 919–934 (1967).
Gibson, J. B.: Selection for the absence of scutellar bristles. Nature 217, 188–190 (1968).
Gibson, J. B.: Effects of temperature on the development of scutellar bristles. Experientia 25, 1198 to 1199 (1969).
Hosgood, S. M. W., MacBean, I. T., Parsons, P. A.: Genetic heterogeneity and accelerated responses to directional selection in Drosophila. Molec. Gen. Genetics 101, 217–226 (1968).
Hosgood, S. M. W., Parsons, P. A.: The exploitation of genetic heterogeneity among the founders of laboratory populations of Drosophila prior to directional selection. Experientia 23, 1066 (1967).
Kearsey, M. J., Kojima, K.: The genetic architecture of body weight and egg hatchibility in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 56, 23–37 (1967).
MacBean, I. T., McKenzie, J. A., Parsons, P. A.: A pair of closely linked genes controlling high scutellar chaeta number in Drosophila. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 41, 227–235 (1971).
Parshad, R., Narda, R. D.: Canalization and threshold effect of the extra scutellar phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity 19, 334–335 (1964).
Parsons, P. A., Hosgood, S. M. W.: Genetic heterogeneity among the founders of laboratory populations of Drosophila. I. Scutellar chaetae. Genetica 38, 328–339 (1967).
Payne, F.: An experiment to test the nature of the variations on which selection acts. Indiana Univ. Stud. 5, 1–45 (1918).
Pennycuik, P. R., Fraser, A. S.: Variation of scutellar bristles in Drosophila. II. Effects of temperature. Aust. Jour. Biol. Sci. 17, 764 to 770 (1964).
Rendel, J. M.: Canalization of the scute phenotype of Drosophila. Evolution 13, 425–439 (1959).
Rendel, J. M.: Scutellar bristles in Drosophila: A comment. Heredity 20, 137–138 (1965).
Rendel, J. M.: Canalization and Gene Control. N.Y. and London: Logos Press, Academic Press 1967.
Rendel, J. M., Sheldon, B. L.: Selection for canalization of the scute phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster. Aust. Jour. Biol. Sci. 13, 36–47 (1960).
Rendel, J. M., Sheldon, B. L., Finlay, D. E.: Selection for canalization of the scute phenotype. II. Am. Nat. 100, 13–31 (1966).
Sheldon, B. L., Rendel, J. M., Finlay, D. E.: The effect of homozygosity on developmental stability. Genetics 49, 471–484 (1964).
Sismanidis, A.: Selection for an almost invariable character in Drosophila. J. Genet. 44, 204–215 (1942).
Whittle, J. R. S.: Genetic analysis of the control of number and pattern of scutellar bristles in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 63, 167–181 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by H. Stubbe
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MacBean, I.T., McKenzie, J.A. & Parsons, P.A. Selection for six scutellar chaetae in Drosophila melanogaster . Theoret. Appl. Genetics 42, 12–15 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306072
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306072