Selection for asymmetrical bias in a behavioural character of drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Two lines of wild type Drosophila melanogaster were selected for asymmetrical bias in the direction in which they folded their wings. Both the Left over Right and the Right over Left selection lines produced significant responses to selection for the first few generations; but, after a 6-10 per cent bias had been achieved, the accumulated response was lost in each line. While the lines were responding, the sexes alternated in high asymmetry values each generation, suggesting that the relevant alleles may have been sex-linked. © 1973 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.