Figure 1
The distribution of D. melanogaster Hi5 and Lo geotaxis strains, and the Oregon-R (Ore-R), unselected, wild-type strain, in a 15-choice geo-maze. Flies finishing in exit tube “1” made 15 downward (geo-positive choices) and flies in tube “16” made 15 upward (geo-negative) choices. Lo and Hi5 distributions were significantly different (X21 = 507.2, p<0.001). The Ore-R data are included to illustrate the radical effect selection has had on the two selected, geotaxis strains. We can assume Ore-R’s response in the maze is similar to the strain Hirsch began working with in 1958.
Figure 2
A comparison of the free-running activity period (tau) distribution of Hirsch’s Lo and Hi5 strains of Drosophila melanogaster. The geo-positive strain (Lo) mean = 24.01 hours and the geo-negative strain (Hi)5 mean = 23.75 hours, (ANOVA: F1,380 = 12.12, p<0.001). Activity records were obtained in constant darkness.