Inheritance of chloroform resistance in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract

The effects of chloroform on 3 strains of D. melanogaster (Eth, Quick Sand , and bw; st; svn) were investigated genetically. Adult flies at 24 h of age were anesthetized with chloroform for 0.5 and 1.0 min, and mortalities were assessed 4 days later. The Eth strain was resistant to chloroform, but the Quick Sand and the bw; st; svn strains were susceptible. Reciprocal crosses between the Eth and the bw; st; svn strains showed that the resistance to chloroform was completely dominant over sensitivity and that maternal or cytoplasmic effects were negligible. A major gene(s) with respect to chloroform resistance is located on the X-chromosome, and a minor gene(s), on the 2nd chromosome. The Eth strain was more resistant to ether than the Quick Sand or the bw; st; svn strains. Cross-resistance to ether and chloroform is apparently manifest in the Eth strain. The resistance to ether and to chloroform is a completely dominant trait, with no maternal or cytoplasmic factors. The locus of the major gene(s) for the ether resistance is located on the 3rd chromosome, and the minor genes are on both the X- and the 4th chromosomes. Resistances to ether and to chloroform are evidently controlled by different genes. The mechanisms of resistance to ether and chloroform are apparently different.