Stripes of positional homologies across the wing blade of Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 103; no. 2; pp. 391 - 401
• Main Authors: Simpson, P., Messal, M. El, Prado, J. Moscoso Del, Ripoll, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Company of Biologists Limited 01.06.1988
• Subjects: Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophilidae
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 1477-9129
• DOI: 10.1242/dev.103.2.391

Clones of cells mutant for shaggy transform all hairs into bristles on the wing blade of Drosophila. Different types of bristles are formed at different locations. It is shown that, although shaggy cells are unable to make a correct decision between an epidermal cell pathway and that of a sensory bristle, they are nevertheless able to respond correctly to positional cues. A compilation of many clones led to the construction of a map of positional homologies in which all of the cells in any one area will produce the same kind of bristle. The result is a series of stripes oriented perpendicular to the anteroposterior axis of the wing and parallel to the dorsoventral axis. The significance of these stripes in relation to mechanisms of pattern formation is discussed.