Potentiation of chromosome loss induced in the paternal genome by methyl methanesulfonate and procarbazine following matings with repair deficient mei-9a females of Drosophila.

Drosophila melanogaster males carrying a ring-X (Xc2) and a doubly-marked Y chromosome (BSYy+) were treated with methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) and procarbazine, and mated with repair-deficient mei-9a females or ordinary repair-proficient females. Observed (recovered) chromosome loss were scored and nonrecovered inferred. Ring-X loss based on shifts in sex ratio were noted. Results indicate that the mei-9a female is strong potentiator of chromosome loss induced by MMS and procarbazine in line with the effect recently shown for dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced chromosome lesions (Zimmering, et al 1980).