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The Detection of Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster

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Chemical Mutagens

Abstract

In the chapter we will take up the principal tests for detecting newly arising mutations in the germ cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Our approach will be to outline the basic methodology for each type of mutation test presented and to indicate what we believe to be the major pitfalls in each case. We shall take up only those tests which seem to be particularly practical and informative for those interested in screening chemicals for their possible mutagenic action on higher organisms. A number of mutational tests of a more complex nature than those which we will describe here have been devised by Muller and his collaborators and presented in detail by Muller and Oster (1963)—for example, tests designed to detect (1) the accumulation of mutants after many generations of chronic treatment with a mutagen, (2) mutants with relatively slight deleterious effects, (3) diverse categories of mutations in the same experiment, and (4) mutants in small specified regions of the genome.

The preparation of this chapter was supported in part by a grant to one of us (E.B.L.) from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission: AT(04-3)-41 ; and by a senior postdoctoral fellowship from the U.S.P.H.S. (to S. A.).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Zoology and Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    S. Abrahamson

  2. Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

    E. B. Lewis

Authors
  1. S. Abrahamson
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  2. E. B. Lewis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA

    Alexander Hollaender

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© 1971 Plenum Press, New York

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Abrahamson, S., Lewis, E.B. (1971). The Detection of Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster . In: Hollaender, A. (eds) Chemical Mutagens. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8969-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8969-3_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-8971-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-8969-3

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