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White Eye Mutation in Drosophila melanogaster

The white eye mutation, often abbreviated w, is a sex linked mutation found in Drosophila melanogaster. The mutation is found on 3B6 on the X chromosome. The white eye mutation was found to be sex linked because it only showed in males in the F1 progeny. The white eye mutation was originally a spontaneous mutation.

Side Effects of Having the White Eye Mutation

Drosophila melanogaster with the white eye mutation typically have shorter life spans than wildtype Drosophila. They also experience many neurological deficiencies in addition to eye defects. Some of the deficiencies that they experience includes difficulty in mobility, and a low stress tolerance. Drosophila melanogaster with the white eye mutation often experience an increased sensitivity to light and a decrease in visual acuity. They have significantly less in the number of synaptic vesicles of photoreceptors.

White eye mutants of Drosophila melanogaster experience a lower rate of reproduction than their wildtype counterparts because they experience a reduced rate of sexual arousal during daylight.