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Selection for light preference during ovipositing in Drosophila pseudoobscura
Canadian Journal of Genetics and Cytology. Journal Canadien De Genetique Et De Cytologie
|October 1, 1983
Summary
Researchers selected Drosophila pseudoobscura fruit flies for light preference during egg-laying. While flies could be bred for higher light preference, low light preference selection failed, indicating genetic variability in light intensity preference.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Animal behavior genetics
Background:
- Drosophila pseudoobscura typically prefers low-light conditions for egg-laying.
- Understanding the genetic basis of behavioral traits like light preference is crucial for evolutionary studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic variability in light intensity preference for oviposition in Drosophila pseudoobscura.
- To determine if artificial selection can alter light preference in this species.
Main Methods:
- Artificial selection experiment on Drosophila pseudoobscura populations.
- Selection for increased preference for high-light intensity during oviposition.
- Selection for increased preference for low-light intensity during oviposition.
Main Results:
- Successfully selected for increased preference for high-light intensity.
- Failed to select for decreased preference for low-light intensity.
- Additive genetic variability was detected for both high- and low-light intensity preferences.
Conclusions:
- Drosophila pseudoobscura populations possess genetic variability for light preference, allowing selection towards photopositivity.
- The original population may have been near a photonegative extreme for oviposition, limiting selection for further photonegativity.