The white gene controls copulation success in Drosophila melanogaster

Characteristics of male courtship behavior in Drosophila melanogaster have been well-described, but the genetic basis of male-female copulation is largely unknown. Here we show that the white (w) gene, a classical gene for eye color, is associated with copulation success. 82.5% of wild-type Canton-S flies copulated within 60 minutes in circular arenas, whereas few white-eyed mutants mated successfully. The w ⁺ allele exchanged to the X chromosome or duplicated to the Y chromosome in the white-eyed genetic background rescued the defect of copulation success. The w ⁺-associated copulation success was independent of eye color phenotype. Addition of the mini-white (mw ⁺) gene to the white-eyed mutant rescued the defect of copulation success in a manner that was mw ⁺ copy number-dependent. Lastly, male-female sexual experience mimicked the effects of w ⁺/mw ⁺ in improving successful copulation. These data suggest that the w ⁺ gene controls copulation success in Drosophila melanogaster.