Male Reproduction Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster Strains with Different Alleles of the flamencoGene

Abstract

The allelic state of gene flamenco has been determined in a number of Drosophila melanogaster strains using the ovo^D test. The presence of an active copy of gypsy in these strains was detected by restriction analysis. Then male reproduction behavior was studied in the strains carrying a mutation in gene flamenco. In these experiments mating success has been experimentally estimated in groups of flies. It has been demonstrated that the presence of mutant allele flam ^MS decreases male mating activity irrespective of the presence or absence of mutation white.The active copy of gypsy does not affect mating activity in the absence of the mutation in gene flamenco. Individual analysis has demonstrated that mutation flam ^MS results in characteristic changes in courtship: flam ^MS males exhibit a delay in the transition from the orientation stage to the vibration stage (the so-called vibration delay). The role of locus flamenco in the formation of male mating behavior in Drosophila is discussed.