Lithium stops hereditary shuddering in Drosophila melanogaster

Shudderer is an X-linked dominant mutation of Drosophila melanogaster. The mutant is characterized by sporadically occurring leg jerks which cause the fly to lurch and shudder. This behavior was suppressed by adding lithium chloride, lithium acetate, or ammonium chloride to the fly's diet. These same salts also restored the fly's reactive climbing abilities toward normal levels.