Why was the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster selected by Thomas Hunt Morgan as an ideal model organism for genetics research?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Grows on simple synthetic medium, two-week life cycle, clear dimorphism, and high progeny yield

  1. Step 1: T.H. Morgan selected Drosophila melanogaster for extensive chromosome mapping experiments.
  2. Step 2: It is easily cultured on simple synthetic cornmeal-agar medium in bottles, produces hundreds of offspring from a single mating, and completes its life cycle in about 12–14 days.
  3. Step 3: Males and females are easily distinguished (males are smaller with dark rounded abdomens and sex combs), and giant salivary polytene chromosomes are readily visible under low-power microscopes.
Answer
It can be reared easily on synthetic medium in the laboratory, completes its life cycle in two weeks, and shows clear sexual dimorphism.
Why not the others: Drosophila is an arthropod insect (), not a mammal; It reproduces strictly by sexual cross-fertilization, not selfing; A six-month generation time would be a major disadvantage.

Practise more Genetics: Principles of Inheritance and Variation.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed NEET UG mock tests.

All Genetics: Principles of Inheritance and Variation questionsTake a mock test

More Genetics: Principles of Inheritance and Variation questions