Nc. Inestrosa et al., ABNORMAL-DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCOMOTOR-ACTIVITY IN YELLOW LARVAE OF DROSOPHILA - A CUTICULAR DEFECT, Genetica, 97(2), 1996, pp. 205-210
The yellow (y) mutation of Drosophila melanogaster affects the develop
ment of behavior and morphology. We have analyzed some behavioral and
morphological parameters during the development of y mutants. Wild-typ
e third instar larvae move in straighter paths than larvae of the same
age homozygous for the y mutation. At 96 h of age, the tracks of y la
rvae have 10 times as many loops as tracks of wild-type larvae, and at
120 h of age, y larvae show bending behavior about 2.5 times more fre
quently than do wild-type. Consequently, they do not disperse as much
as wild-type larvae. Concomitant with the behavioral changes, the larv
ae present a defect in the morphology of large chaetae in the larval d
enticle belts, particularly of 2nd and 3rd instars, both with light an
d scanning electron microscopes. These results suggest that a cuticula
r defect is probably involved in the abnormal locomotor activity obser
ved in y larvae of Drosophila melanogaster.