Analyzing correlations of three types in selected lines of Drosophila melanogaster that have evolved stable extreme geotactic performance.
The behavior-genetic analysis of Drosophila melanogaster with geotactic performance as the phenotype is an ideal model system with which to investigate the complex relations between heredity and behavior. As part of a long-term, 38-year study, we report 4 experiments that identify and analyze trait correlations in the selected high- and low-geotaxis lines. We performed F2 correlational analyses and backcrosses to examine 3 types of correlations: (a) genotype-genotype (alcohol dehydrogenase [Adh]-amylase [Amy]), (b) genotype-phenotype (Adh and Amy-geotaxis), and (c) phenotype-phenotype (mate preference-geotaxis). Only the Adh-geotaxis correlation survived meiosis and reappeared in the F2 generation, which indicates a genotype-phenotype correlation, whereas the others did not. The importance of hybrid correlational analysis to the behavior-genetic analysis of a species is discussed.
Stoltenberg
S F
SF
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign 61820.
Hirsch
J
J
Berlocher
S H
SH
D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D000681:Amylases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D018522:Gravitropism / Q000235:genetics*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype
D007527:Isoenzymes; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; D000681:Amylases