Divergent selection on locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster. I. Selection response.

Selection for high and low locomotor activity has been applied in two base populations of Drosophila melanogaster of distinct geographical origin. From each base population a high and a low line were selected, in which anesthesia was performed with ether. In addition, from one of the base populations a high line and a low line were selected under CO2 narcosis. Locomotor activity was measured in an apparatus consisting of rows of 20 tubes in a line. Heritabilities in the base populations determined in progeny tests were approximately 10%. Divergent directional selection was successful with realized heritabilities of similar value.