Abstract
Hotta and Benzer (ref. 1), using loss of phototactic response as an indicator of defective vision in ebony11 and tan1 mutants of D. melanogaster, have shown that these mutants also possess abnormal electroretinograms (ERGs). Certain other body colour mutants, however, such as black, show normal ERGs, suggesting that body colour abnormality and defective ERG are unrelated. Pearce (now Crossley)2,3 reported that the ebony gene influenced behaviour in a number of ways, not all of which could be related to defective vision. A more detailed analysis of the mutants studied by Hotta and Benzer is therefore of interest.
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References
Hotta, Y., and Benzer, S., Nature, 222, 351 (1969).
Pearce, S., Anim. Behav., 8, 232 (1960).
Crossley, S., thesis, Oxford Univ. (1963).
Rendel, J. M., Evolution, 5, 226 (1951).
Jacobs, M. E., Ecology, 41, 182 (1960).
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CROSSLEY, S., ZUILL, E. Courtship Behaviour of some Drosophila melanogaster Mutants. Nature 225, 1064–1065 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/2251064a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2251064a0
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