Impact of gene copy number variation on anesthesia in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chromosomal deletions and duplications, which result in halving or doubling of copy number in a block of genes, are an important source of variation between individuals. Phenotypic effects of copy number variation are commonly observed, but effects on sensitivity to volatile anesthetics have not been assessed in any organism.

Methods

The potency with which halothane depresses the righting reflex of fruit flies was measured in congenic Drosophila strains, each of which was heterozygous for a deletion of average size 400 kb. Over 200 strains were examined, thereby scanning approximately half of the fly genome.

Results

Although the vast majority of deletion heterozygotes were indistinguishable from the control, eight had significantly altered sensitivity to ha

SUBMITTER: Alone DP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2701505 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature