Drosophila synthetica

Drosophila synthetica refers to a genetically engineered population of Schwarzbäuchigen fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster ). This population has been adjusted so under laboratory conditions, that they are morphologically and genetically strong enough different from D. melanogaster to be recognized as a separate species. D. synthetica has white, reduced eyes and more veined wings on as D. melanogaster. The population was first described in 2012 by the Swiss cell biologist Eduardo Moreno.

Features

D. synthetica morphologically similar to D. melanogaster. Eyes, however, are smaller and, in contrast to D. melanogaster no red pigments, leading to blindness. The wings of D. synthetica have towards their Mutterart additional Lateraladern.

Reproduction

D. synthetica - fruit flies are mutually fertile and can fertile viable offspring. Although spring from the mating of D. melanogaster and D. synthetica eggs and larvae, but the latter die from during the pupal stage and are not able to develop into imagines. Thus, the population of D. synthetica is biologically reproduction of D. melanogaster, as well as all other species isolated.

System

D. synthetica meets all the requirements to be recognized as a separate species: it is genetically and morphologically distinct from all other species and not interbreed with them. The breeder of the Flies, the Swiss cell biologist Eduardo Moreno, therefore, suggested to treat them as " synthetic type " and contrast as such " natural kinds ". However, its original publication in the journal PLoS One 2012 contains no formal description as a new species, only a summary list of the morphological and genetic features. A holotype, body measurements or taxonomic classification was not on Moreno. D. synthetica are the first animal organisms that reproduce certain of their Mutterart isolated and for which the necessary isolation for these genes are known.