Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2013, Volume 16, Issue 2

The Involvement of Deuterium Presence in the Drosophila Melanogaster Evolution - Diverse Effects of Deuterium Concentrations Upon the Phenotype of Different Strains and Romanian Ecotypes

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.