Question

Why has T.H. Morgan selected fruit flies for his genetical experiments?

Answer 1

Importance of fruit flies for the study of genetics to T.H. Morgan is :

1. Fruit flies are easily available hovering over banana where they feed on the yeast cells present in its surface.

2. They can be reared inside the bottles having yeast culture.

3. A new generation can be raised within 2 weeks with single mating producing hundreds of individuals.

4. The animals can be temporarily inactivated with ether and examined with lens/dissection microscope.

5. Sexual dimorphism is present.

6. They have very less number of chromosomes.

7. Breeding Drosophila is quite cheap.