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Ethanol utilization and tolerance in laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster

J.J. Tarin; C. Nájera; J.L. Ménsua

Universidad de Valencia, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Genética, Doctor Moliner, 50, 46100 Burjasot, Valencia, Spain. Send correspondence to C.N.

ABSTRACT

Due to limitations and problems with calculation of the ethano1 concentration that kills 50% of the individuals after ethano1 exposure (LC50), nonparametric statistical methods were used for the analysis of survival data of three laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster. These populations were collected seven years ago in a cellar, a vineyard and a pinewood.
There was a positive correlation between the beneficial effect of ethanol at low concentrations and the toxic effect at high concentrations among the three populations and between the two sexes within each population, although the effects of sucrose were also important. Survival and alcoho1 tolerance varied among the three populations.
The pattern of response of both sexes together was different from male and female patterns analysed separately. This is indicative that the sexes should not be grouped for data analysis without determining whether they have the same response.

Keywords: Ethanol; Tolerance; Drosophila melanogaster.

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