Main description:

There is no multicellular animal whose genetics is so well understood as Drosophila melanogaster. An increasing number of biologists have, therefore, turned to the fruitfly in pursuit of such diverse areas as the molecular biology of eukaryotic cells, development and neurobiology. Indeed there are signs that Dro- sophila may soon become the most central organism in biqlogy for genetic analysis of complex problems. The papers in this collection were presented at a conference on Development and Behavior of Drosophila held at the Tata Insti- tute of Fundamental Research from 19th to 22nd December, 1979. The volume reflects the commonly shared belief of the participants that Drosophila has as much to contribute to biology in the future as it has in the past. We hope it will be of interest not merely to Dro- sophilists but to all biologists. We thank Chetan Premani, Anil Gupta, K.S. Krishnan, Veronica Rodrigues, Hemant Chikermane and K.Vijay Raghavan for help with recording and transcription of the proceedings and Vrinda Nabar and K.V. Hareesh for editorial assistance. We thank Samuel Richman, Thomas Schmidt-Glenewinkel and T.R.
Venkatesh for their valuable assistance in proofreading the manuscripts, and we also thank Patricia Rank for her excellent effort in the preparation of the final manuscripts. The conference was supported by a grant from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust.

Contents:

Opening Remarks.- Opening Remarks.- Gene Organization and Expression.- Structural and Functional Organization of a Gene in Drosophila Melanogaster.- Genetics of Minute Locus in Drosophila Melanogaster.- Effect of Zeste on White Complementation.- The Heat Shock Response: A Model System for the Study of Gene Regulation in Drosophila.- Regulation of DNA Replication in Drosophila.- Genetics of Development.- A Combined Genetic and Mosaic Approach to the Study of Oogenesis in Drosophila.- Developmental Analysis of fs(1)1867, an Egg Resorption Mutation of Drosophila Melanogaster.- Genetics of Pattern Formation.- The Control of Growth in the Imaginal Discs of Drosophila.- An Analysis of the Expressivity of Some Bithorax Transformations.- What is the Normal Function of Genes which Give Rise to Homeotic Mutations?.- Genetic and Developmental Analysis of Mutants in an Early Ecdysone-inducible Puffing Region in Drosophila Melanogaster.- Developmental and Genetic Studies of the Indirect Flight Muscles of Drosophila Melanogaster.- Monoclonal Antibodies in the Analysis of Drosophila Development.- Development and Wiring of the Nervous System.- The Effect of X-Chromosome Deficiencies on Neurogenesis in Drosophila.- Formation of Central Patterns by Receptor Cell Axons in Drosophila.- Sensory Pathways in Drosophila Central Nervous System.- Peripheral and Central Nervous System Projections in Normal and Mutant (Bithorax) Drosophila Melanogaster.- Chemistry of the Nervous System.- Use of Neurotoxins for Biochemical and Genetic Analysis of Membrane Proteins Involved in Cell Excitability.- The Acetylcholinesterase from Drosophila Melanogaster.- Isolation and Characterization of Membranes from Drosophila Melanogaster.- Phosphorylated Proteins in Drosophila Membranes.- Sensory and Motor Behavior.- Photoreceptor Function.- Genetic Analysis of a Complex Chemoreceptor.- Olfactory Behavior of Drosophila Melanogaster.- Mutants of Brain Structure and Function: What is the Significance of the Mushroom Bodies for Behavior?.- Visual Guidance in Drosophila.- Complex Behavior.- Effects of a Clock Mutation on the Subjective Day - Implications for a Membrane Model of the Drosophila Circadian Clock.- Apparent Absence of a Separate B-Oscillator in Phasing the Circadian Rhythm of Eclosion in Drosophila Pseudoobscura.- Higher Behavior in Drosophila Analyzed with Mutations that Disrupt the Structure and Function of the Nervous System.- Attractants in the Courtship Behavior of Drosophila Melanogaster.- A Review of the Behavior and Biochemistry of dunce, a Mutation of Learning in Drosophila.- Concluding Remarks.