[Effect of individual chromosomes on sex behavior of Drosophila]

Dependence of intensity of Drosophila virilis male sexual behaviour on age-related differences was studied. Most active proved to be those age periods which correlated with the time of S-esterase elevated activity. Courtship displays were compared in strains 101 and 160, interstrain differences correlating with the S-esterase activity level. As S-esterase plays an important role in fertilization, this relationship seems to be non-random. It is quite possible that the level of S-esterase activity regulates male sexual activity in natural populations. Some variations in male courtship display in interspecies hybrids (D. virilis x D. littoralis) were demonstrated which depended on the gene dose of respective species. It may well be that in the bk and dt gene regions those genes are localized which are responsible for courtship behaviour. The analysis of sexual behaviour in interstrain and interspecies hybrids proved to be successful approach to elucidating possible role of separate chromosomes in sexual behaviour determination.