Organization of the Drosophila genome in mutants with changes in second messenger metabolism and learning ability

Mechanisms modifying the structural-functional organization of polytene chromosomes were studied in a Drosophila line in which the activating properties of calmodulin were altered and learning ability was increased, by treating mutants with homeopathic preparations which affect Ca2+ and F- ion metabolism. The results indicated a dominant role for Ca2+ ions and calmodulin in determining the chromocentric organization of the nucleus. F- ions, which stimulate the adenylate cyclase complex, were found not to have a role.