The effects of chemicals on the phenotypic expression of aVestigial mutant inDrosophila melanogaster

Several kinds of chemicals were tested to determine their effects on the wings of avestigial mutant inDrosophila melanogaster. Two isogenic strains were used, viz.vg-ms andB; vg-ms, both co-isogenic with the Oregon-isogenic strain. Ammonium lactate was found to have a conspicuous effect in enlarging thevestigial wings. At an appropriate concentration of this agent the wings of thevg-ms- andB;vg-ms-co-isogenic strains were restored almost to wild-type wing at 27°C. This fact indicates that the wings of thevg-ms mutant can be restored to wild type not only by temperature but also by certain chemicals. Ammonium lactate was effective conspicuously on bothBar andvestigial-ms mutants. However, there was found an interaction betweenBar andvestigial-ms when these genes were combined. The manifestation ofB is enhanced byvg-ms, especially under the the condition of feeding in medium containing the chemical, and the manifestation ofvg-ms is reduced byB.This work forms part of a thesis for the doctorate of Kyoto University.