Genetic effects of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) in Drosophila

Induction of sex-linked recessive lethal mutations, heritable translocations and genetic crossing-over were studied in Drosophila melanogaster males treated as adults and as embryos with different concentrations of gaseous DBCP. Adults exposed to 30 ppm/hr of the compound did not produce a significant number of sex-linked recessive lethal mutations in treated spermatozoa, spermatids, or spermatocytes. However, at an exposure of 17.7 ppm/hr, a weak mutagenic effect was observed in embryonic spermatogonia. No translocation was scored in 4032 tested chromosomes from adults treated with 150 ppm/hr. However, a significant number of spermatocytial crossovers were induced after an exposure of 120 ppm/hr.