The Behavior-Genetic Analysis of Drosophila Melanogaster Using The Central Excitatory State
Vargo, Mark Anthony
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/77675
Description
Title
The Behavior-Genetic Analysis of Drosophila Melanogaster Using The Central Excitatory State
Author(s)
Vargo, Mark Anthony
Issue Date
1984
Department of Study
Psychology
Discipline
Psychology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Psychology, Psychobiology
Language
eng
Abstract
The central excitatory state (CES), a physiological phenomenon characterized by an increased probability of proboscis extension to a water stimulus following sucrose stimulation, has been the focus of a behavior-genetic analysis of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. The interest CES has received is due to the positive correlation it has with classical conditioning in another dipteran species, the blow fly (Phormia regina). Initial experiments were performed to demonstrate and characterize CES in this species, results of which indicated that CES decays over time, is a function of sucrose concentration, and mediated by neural junctures that are centrally located.
An apparatus is described which automates the CES test procedure, resulting in more uniform stimulation of the animal.
The initial genetic analyses involved bidirectional selection and single-pair matings for high and low expressions of CES. These experiments succeeded in producing from one population a high CES line and from another population a low CES line.
Behavioral analyses of the selected lines were performed in order to assess the effects of artificial selection on the expression of CES and of other correlated traits. Results indicate that the selected lines display (a) different levels of CES, (b) differences in water responsiveness (possibly due to differences in dehydration rates), (c) no water-induced CES, and (d) no significant amounts of sensitization or conditioning. Also, CES in the high line is not dissipated by subsequent posttest stimulations.
The final genetic analyses of the selected lines employed biometrical and chromosome analyses. The analyses revealed that (a) the dominance component for CES shifted across generations from low expression being partially dominant to high expression being partially dominant, (b) at least two chromosomes (the second and third) are correlated with CES expression, (c) for the low line, both the second and third chromosomes are necessary for low expression suggesting an epistatic interaction, (d) a cytoplasmic component is involved with CES expression, and (e) loci of minor effect for CES expression reside on the X chromosome.
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