Selection for Circadian Eclosion Time in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Early and late eclosion strains were developed from Drosophila melanogaster cultures. The Oregon-R parent strains (isolated in 1925) showed significantly more selectability than the W² parent strain collected at the beginning of this study (1971). This is consistent with the hypothesis that the selective advantage of circadian behaviors is reduced in laboratory conditions.