Alteration of the gene for xanthine dehydrogenase in Drosophila following treatment with wildtype DNA.

Microinjection of whole genome DNA into Drosophila embryos can result in a variety of changes to the host genome. In the experiments reported here, wildtype DNA is injected into mutant animals lacking xanthine dehydrogenase activity by virtue of a mutation in the structural gene for the enzyme, the rosy gene. Animals with wildtype eye pigmentation and normal levels of xanthine dehydrogenase result from the treatment. Analysis of the electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme in the altered stocks indicates, in four of five cases, that the restoration of activity coincides with changes in electrophoretic mobility. The changes which occur are consistent with acquisition of sequence from the donor DNA and, in two cases, provide evidence for recombination between homologous sequences.