Genetic architecture of olfactory discriminative avoidance conditioning in Drosophila melanogaster

Recent claims to have demonstrated associative learning ability in Drosophila melanogaster raise questions about the adaptive significance of behavioral modifiability of this species. In a strain survey and a 9 X 9 half diallel cross study of olfactory discriminative avoidance conditioning, a low na...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of comparative psychology (1983) 1983-03, Vol.97 (1), p.52-58
Main Authors: Hewitt, J.K, Fulker, D.W, Hewitt, C.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal
animal breeding
animal genetics
Animal Strain Differences
Animals
arthropods
Associative Processes
Avoidance Conditioning
Avoidance Learning - physiology
Discrimination Learning - physiology
Drosophila
Drosophila melanogaster - genetics
Electroshock
entomology
Female
Male
Mutation
Odor Discrimination
Odorants
Phenotypes
Selection, Genetic
Smell - physiology
Theory of Evolution
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Summary:Recent claims to have demonstrated associative learning ability in Drosophila melanogaster raise questions about the adaptive significance of behavioral modifiability of this species. In a strain survey and a 9 X 9 half diallel cross study of olfactory discriminative avoidance conditioning, a low narrow heritability and strong directional dominance or heterosis controlling nonrandom phenotypic variation were found. Furthermore, the predicted inbreeding depression and asymmetrical response to bidirectional genetic selection were both observed. The genetic architecture revealed in these experiments is consistent with a close association between this conditioning phenotype and evolutionary fitness. Predictions from this interpretation to the nature of new mutations have been confirmed, and a possible role for conditioning in courtship behavior has been identified.
ISSN:0735-7036
1939-2087
DOI:10.1037/0735-7036.97.1.52