Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Locomotor activity in theTyr-1 mutant ofDrosophila melanogaster

  • Published:
Behavior Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The genetics and neurochemistry of locomotor activity inDrosophila have received increasing attention, although no precise relationship has been formulated, and researchers have not always distinguished the various forms of activity. In the present research, using the dopamine-deficientTyr-1 mutant, we demonstrate that it is possible to operationally define and provide separate measures of spontaneous activity and reactivity and have also isolated a third, distinct, category of locomotor activity which we term “stimulated” activity. Our data indicate thatTyr-1 mutants do not differ from isogenic wild-type flies with respect to spontaneous activity or reactivity but that they do display significantly higher stimulated activity levels. It is suggested that low levels of dopamine inTyr-1 may result in increased stimulated activity rather than spontaneous activity as previous research has suggested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angus, J. (1974). Measurement of locomotor activity in Drosophila.Anim. Behav. 22:890–898.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnell, A. M., and Daly, B. A. (1982). Spontaneous activity and dopamine levels in Tyr-1 mutants of Drosophila melanogaster. In Lakovaara, S. (ed.),Advances in Genetics, Development and Evolution of Drosophila, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnet, B., and Connolly, K. (1974). Activity and sexual behavior of Drosophila melanogaster. In van Abeelen, J. H. F. (ed.),The Genetics of Behaviour, North-Holland, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnet, B., Connolly, K., and Mallinson, M. (1974). Activity and sexual behaviour of neurological mutants ofDrosophila melanogaster.Behav. Genet. 4:227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, K. (1966a). The genetics of behaviour. In Foss, B. (ed.),New Horizons in Psychology, Penguin Books, Baltimore, Md.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, K. (1966b). Locomotor activity in Drosophila. II. Selection for active and inactive strains.Anim. Behav. 14:444–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, K. (1967). Locomotor activity in Drosophila. III. A distinction between activity and reactivity.Anim. Behav.,15:149–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, K., Tunnicliff, G., and Rick, J. T. (1972). The effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid on spontaneous locomotor activity and dopamine levels in Drosophila melanogaster.Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 40b:321–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, A. W. (1963). Attempts to select for spontaneous activity in Drosophila melanogaster.Anim. Behav. 11:369–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hay, D. A. (1972a). Genetical and maternal determinants of the activity and preening behaviour of Drosophila melanogaster reared in different environments.Heredity 28:311–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hay, D. A. (1972b). Behavioural rhythms in cultures of immature Drosophila melanogaster.Experientia 28:922.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamyshev, N. G., Smirnova, G. P., Savvateeva, E. V., Medredera, A. V., and Ponomarenko, V. V. (1983). The influence of serotonin and p-chlorophenylalanine on locomotor activity of Drosophila melanogaster.Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 18:677–681.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyriacou, C. P., Burnet, B., and Connolly, K. (1978). The behavioural basis of overdominance in competitive mating success at the ebony locus of Drosophila melanogaster.Anim. Behav. 26:1195–1207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tunnicliff, G., Rick, J. T. and Connolly, K. (1969). Locomotor activity in Drosophila. V. A comparative biochemical study of selectively bred populations.Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 29:1239–1245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner, C. K., Grell, E. H., and Jacobson, K. B. (1974). Phenol oxidase activity and the lozenge locus ofDrosophila melanogaster.Biochem. Genetics,12:149–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, R., Burnet, B., Eastwood, L., and Connolly, K. (1976). Behavioural pleiotropy of the yellow gene in Drosophila melanogaster.Genet. Res.,28:75–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, T. R. F., Bewley, G. C., and Sherald, A. (1976). The genetics of dopa decarboxylase in Drosophila melanogaster. II. Isolation and characterization of dopa decarboxylase deficient mutants and their relationship to the alpha-methyl dopa hypersensitive mutants.Genetics 84:287–310.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, University of Ulster at Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, Northern Ireland

    Michael J. Meehan & Ronnie Wilson

Authors
  1. Michael J. Meehan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ronnie Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Meehan, M.J., Wilson, R. Locomotor activity in theTyr-1 mutant ofDrosophila melanogaster . Behav Genet 17, 503–512 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01073117

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01073117

Key Words

Search

Navigation