Effects of Radiation on Populations of Drosophila Melanogaster with Different Genetic Structures I. Changes in Fitness and Productivity

Abstract

It has been shown in previous work that heterozygotes between irradiated and non-irradiated populations of D. melanogaster experience a marked reduction in competitive ability. The effects of allowing the nucleus of a heterozygote gene pool to develop are here investigated and it is found that the total number emerging from a cage containing irradiated, non-irradiated, and heterozygote flies is considerably increased and the number of heterozygotes themselves shows almost a 100% increase. It is concluded that the opportunity given to the heterozygotes to form an integrated gene pool allows them to overcome much oftheir competitive disability.