Behavior and single gene substitution inDrosophila melanogaster. I. Mating and courtship differences withw, cn, andbw Loci

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effect of single allele substitutions into an isogenic background in Oregon-R inbred lines of Drosophila melanogaster on courtship and mating patterns has been studied. A comparison has been made between the white locusw, w co ,w e , the wild typew + ,cn, bw, andcn bw to test the effect of eye pigmentation in influencing courtship and mating patterns. It was found thatw, w e ,w co ,cn, andbw females were more successful in mating than were wild-type andcn bw females,cn bw females being less successful than wild-type females. Also,w andcn bw males were equally successful in mating but less successful than wild-type males during the 20-min test period. The mutant males performed as well as the wild-type after courtship was initiated. The behavioral parameters measured were (1) courtship latency, the time from exposure of male to female until orientation; (2) mating speed, the time from beginning of orientation of male to female until successful copulation; and (3) copulation time.