THE UTILIZATION OF SUGARS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES BY DROSOPHILA

Abstract

Newly emerged adults of D. melanogaster were used to test the utilization of a large number of sugars, higher carbohydrates, and other substances. Flies were reared on the standard corn meal, agar, and sugar medium, with an inoculation of yeast. Test substances were usually offered in soln. 100 flies were used in each test, and those dying each day were counted. It was found that flies survive for long periods on pure solns. of single sugars of various types, and for lesser periods on other substances. Some substances in each group were found to be inert. Drosophila can also utilize more complex substances, e.g., starch, glycerine, ethyl alcohol, acetic and succinic acids, alpha-methyl glycoside, glycine and methionine. Many of the substances tested, including some sugars, were toxic. Among these were: rhamnose, sorbose, tartaric acid, norleucine, histidine, and valine.