Stress resistance and longevity in selected lines of Drosophila melanogaster

Five independent populations (lines) of Drosophila melanogaster were select ed for female starvation resistance. Females and males from the selected li nes were relatively starvation resistant when compared to flies from five c ontrol lines. Moreover, flies from selected lines were resistant to other s tresses: desiccation, acetone fumes, ethanol fumes, and paraquat (a source of oxygen radicals). Data from a variety of previous studies indicate an as sociation between stress resistance and longevity. In this context, the pre sent study addressed the question of whether flies from the stress-resistan t lines were relatively long-lived. Replicate population cages from each se lected and control line were used to assess longevity. Neither females nor males from the selected lines were relatively long-lived. In at least some cases, stress resistance may be necessary, but not sufficient, for longevit y. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.