Abstract
THE American fruit fly holds a unique position in biology; this animal has probably been more intensively studied from all angles of biology than any other. The immense literature and specialized language illustrates the intensity of attention it has received. Yet some geneticists, and a much smaller proportion of botanists and zoologists, know very little of the results of this intense experimentation. It was understandable that during its early years of captivity it should be of particular interest for the development of the chromosome theory of heredity. As a consequence the excuse that it was a laboratory plaything might be considered to be reasonable. Since that time, however, this Drosophila has provided most important data in subjects which are considered to be the province of the taxonomist, ecologist and morphologist.
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References
Bridges, C. B., and Brehme, K. S., "The Mutants of Drosophila melanogaster", Carnegie Institution of Washington Pub. 552 (1944).
Patterson, J. T., "Studies in the Genetics of Drosophila III", University of Texas Pub. 4313 (1944), 2.50 dollars.
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SANSOME, F. Drosophila Melanogaster . Nature 154, 308–309 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1038/154308b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/154308b0