Drosophila melanogaster as a model for studying protein-encoding genes that are resident in constitutive heterochromatin

Article Abstract:

Studies conducted in Drosophila melanogaster have shown that the peculiar genomic component performs important cellular functions and carries essential genes. New research on the molecular organization, function and evolution of heterochromatin was supported by the sequencing and annotation of heterochromatic DNA. Nearly 450 predicted genes are identified in the heterochromatin of D. melanogaster, indicating that the number of active genes is higher than suggested by genetic analysis.

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Changes in mortality patterns and temperature dependence of lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster caused by inbreeding

Article Abstract:

The validity of the effects of inbreeding on the temperature dependence of lifespan and on mortality patterns in Drosophila melanogaster through an increase of overall mortality was tested. There is a general effect of inbreeding on lifespan that increases overall mortality and decreases the temperature dependence of the trait.

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Finding of male-killing Spiroplasma infecting Drosophila melanogaster in Africa implies transatlantic migration of this endosymbiont

Article Abstract:

The identification of male-killing Spiroplasma in the wild-caught female Drosophila melanogaster from Uganda is reported. The DNA sequence comparisons at three loci have suggested that this Spiroplasma strain is closely related to the male-killing strain, which was found to infect Drosophila melanogaster in Brazil.

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