THE INVOLVEMENT OF DEUTERIUM PRESENCE IN THE Print

THE INVOLVEMENT OF DEUTERIUM PRESENCE IN THE

DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER EVOLUTION

DIVERSE EFFECTS OF DEUTERIUM CONCENTRATIONS UPON THE PHENOTYPE OF DIFFERENT STRAINS AND ROMANIAN ECOTYPES

 

  Butnaru Gallia1*, Sarac Ioan1, Popescu Sorina1, Titescu Gheorghe2, Ioan Stefanescu2

1University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Banat from Timişoara 

 

Calea Aradului no. 119; zip 300645, Romania

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

 On Drosophila melanogaster a genetic model organism many experiments have been organized to identify the effect of Deuterium. In this respect standard genotypes (3) and Romanian ecotypes (3) have been used. White genotype (w+) has been used as reference material. Six deuterium concentrations were tested. Deuterium content was below and above the content naturally occurs (0.014%, 0.0025%, 0.050%, 2.290%, 13.260% and 25.000% respectively). To highlight the 2H effects on the individuals’ phenotype and behavior the survivability; the adult adaptive capacity to the presence of 2H in the culture media; the prolificacy;  the females / males sensitivity to 2H and the teratological and hereditary changes were followed out.  Data from five successive generations were statistically processed. As a general observation we can assume that the growth media/diet containing a low [0.0025%] amount of 2H improved the female’s capacity to lay eggs and to develop a large population. A similar behavior was pointed out by the females fed with 13.260% 2H. If the amount of 2H was high the physiological processes and prolificacy were drastically repressed.     

 

Keywords: Drosophila melanogaster, low and high concentrations of deuterium, Nutrigenetics