[Method of selection of synchronously developing larvae of Drosophila melanogaster]

Abstract

Methods of obtaining synchronously developing larvae were comparatively evaluated. Larvae were selected by distinct morphological features: time of hatching, second larval moult, pupation. Both virgin and non-virgin females were taken in the experiment. The degree of synchronism was estimated by the interval during which pupation took place in all larvae of the sample. When selecting larvae at the time of second moult, the pupation of all selected larvae was completed within 8 hrs. All other methods of obtaining synchronously developing larvae give a spread of pupation from 12 to 25 hrs. A simple modification of the method of larval selection during the second moult is proposed which allows to obtain a large amount of synchronously developing larvae of the 3rd instar.