Summary
In a survey of 21 strains of silkworm larvae for their phototactic behavior, most of them were found to give positive- or non-phototactic responses; only one strain, os; so, moved away from the light source (negative phototaxis). Genetic analysis of this negative-phototactic strain shows that mutation in the so gene (larval skin sooty black) or other gene(s) closely linked to the so gene is the principal factor affecting the orientation of the larvae when they are exposed to the light. The genetic trait of negative phototaxis is completely recessive to those of both positive and nonphototaxis. Mosaic analysis indicates that the brain is responsible for determining the orientation toward or away from the light.
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Communicated by O. Siddiqi
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Inoko, H., Katsuki, M. & Watanabe, I. Genetic and mosaic analysis of negative-phototactic behavior in silkworm larvae. Mol Gen Genet 190, 112–116 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330331
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00330331