Summary
The spontaneous mutation rate in the two sexes was studied in flies from various stocks, mainly isogenic wild-type, reared under controlled and identical conditions. It was found to be markedly higher in the male, the difference being statistically significant. Fluctuations were considerable, even within the same experiment, and point to the necessity for strictest control of all conditions when gaining data on spontaneous mutations. Possible explanations for the observed results are discussed, but without further evidence along other lines no decision between them appears possible.
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Auerbach, C. The effect of sex on the spontaneous mutation rate inDrosophila melanogaster . Journ. of Genetics 41, 255–265 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02983022
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02983022