Abstract
In earlier studies we have found that the difference between short and long life spans of two inbred strains of Drosophila melanogaster is controlled by nuclear major genes. The present study has revealed a cytoplasmic factor that influences the expression of the nuclear longevity genes. The factor shows a typical maternal inheritance and is considered to be an extranuclear gene, such as mitochondrial DNA (chondriome). This paper marks the discovery of two basic forms of inheritance, nuclear and extra-nuclear, in the genetics of life span of D. melanogaster. These findings suggest that further studies, including genetic engineering, on longevity and aging might enable direct manipulation of these characters.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Burcombe, J V, and Hollingsworth, M J. 1970. The relationship between developmental temperature and longevity in Drosophila. Gerontologia, 16, 172–181.
Goodrick, C L. 1975. Life-span and the inheritance of longevity of inbred mice. J Gerontol, 30, 257–263.
Johnson, T E, and Wood, W B. 1982. Genetic analysis of lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 79, 6603–6607.
Lints, F A, and Lints, C V. 1971. Relationship between growth and ageing in Drosophila melanogaster. Nature (New Biol), 229, 86–88.
Luckinbill, L S, Graves, J L, Reed, A H, and Koestawang, S. 1988. Localizing genes that defer senescence in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity, 60, 367–374.
Massie, H R, and Williams, T R. 1987. Mitochondrial DNA and life span changes in normal and dewinged Drosophila at different temperatures. Exp Gerontol, 22, 139–153.
Mather, K. 1949. Biometrical Genetics, Methuen, London.
Maynard Smith, J. 1959. Sex-linked inheritance of longevity in Drosophila subobscura. J Genet, 56, 227–235.
Storer, J B. 1966. Longevity and gross pathology at death in 22 inbred mouse strains. J Gerontol, 21, 404–409.
Tantawy, A O, and Rakha, F A. 1964. Studies on natural populations of Drosophila, IV. Genetic variances of and correlations between four characters in D. melanogaster and D. simulans. Genetics, 50, 1349–1355.
Wattiaux, J M. 1962. Variation of bristle number in relation to speed of development in Drosophila melanogaster. Nature, 194, 706–707.
Yonemura, I, Abe, M, Ishidate, R, Ishiyama, T, Motoyama, T, Hasekura, H, and Boettcher, B. 1990. Influence of temperature on the inheritance of adult life span in Drosophila melanogaster. Hereditas, 112, 117–127.
Yonemura, I, Motoyama, T, and Hasekura, H. 1989. Mode Of inheritance of major genes controlling life span differences between two inbred strains of Drosophila melanogaster. Hereditas, 111, 207–214.
Yonemura, I, Motoyama, T, Hasekura, H, and Boettcher, B. 1991. Relationship between genotypes of longevity genes and developmental speed in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity, 66, 143–149.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yonemura, I., Motoyama, T., Hasekura, H. et al. Cytoplasmic influence on the expression of nuclear genes affecting life span in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity 66, 259–264 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1991.32
Received:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1991.32
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Maternal non-Mendelian inheritance of a reduced lifespan? A hypothesis
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (2014)
