Mutations in raised Drosophila melanogaster affect experience-dependent aspects of sexual behavior in both sexes.
Many aspects of the reproductive behavior of Drosophila melanogaster are modified dramatically by experience and age. Males' courtship of immature males and fertilized females decreases over time. Females' receptivity to copulation, and the behaviors that females perform and elicit, are affected by their age and sexual experience. We show that mutations in a raised stock affect all of these age- and experience-dependent aspects of male and female sexual behavior. Experience has no effect on raised males' courtship of immature males and has opposite effects on raised and wild-type males' courtship of fertilized females. In comparison to controls, raised females become sexually mature at an earlier age, and sexually mature raised virgin females copulate more quickly. Following mating, raised females elicit more courtship and remate faster and more frequently than control females.
McRobert
Scott P
SP
Department of Biology, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131, USA. smcrober@sju.edu
Tompkins
Laurie
L
Barr
Norman B
NB
Bradner
Joshua
J
Lucas
Devan
D
Rattigan
Dina M
DM
Tannous
Ann F
AF
D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012984:Software