Radiosensitivity of Oocytes of Drosophila

Summary

Mature oocytes of triploid females of Drosophila melanogaster are more radiosensitive than those of diploid females. In the progeny of XX/Y females, more dominant lethals are expressed in individuals resulting from XX-bearing pronuclei than in individuals resulting from Y-bearing pro-nuclei. The results support the hypothesis that the amount of radiation-induced lethality in mature oocytes is proportional to the amount of chromosome material irradiated in the oocyte nucleus and tested after the formation of the maternal pro-nucleus. This indicates that in mature oocytes the chromosomes represent the most important target for x-ray-induced lethality.