Segregation of the somatic and germ-cell pathways of development in Drosophila

Two groups of lethal mutations that are expressed only in somatic cells were isolated using the gonosomic selective method. The mutations tend to be organized in clusters along the sex chromosome. Analysis of mutation expression allowed to characterize the degree of changes in genetic diversity of somatic and germ lines in development; it is minimal in the III instar larvae and prepupae and maximal in the I and II instar larvae and pupae.