Effects of Genomic Position on the Expression of Transduced Copies of the white Gene of Drosophila

• DOI: 10.1126/science.2992080
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T19:42:50Z
• Authors: Robert Levis; Tulle Hazelrigg; Gerald M. Rubin
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Phenotype; Transformation, Genetic; Gene Expression Regulation; Mosaicism; Pigmentation; Mutation; DNA Transposable Elements; Animals; Chromosome Mapping; Drosophila

The white gene of Drosophila is expressed normally when introduced at many different sites in the genome by P-element-mediated DNA transformation, but is expressed abnormally when inserted at two particular genomic positions. It is now demonstrated that the mutant expression in these two cases is caused by the surrounding chromosomal region into which the white gene has been inserted. The white gene could be moved from these two positions, where it confers a mutant phenotype, to other positions in the genome where it confers a wild-type phenotype. However, flies in which white has been moved to one new location have an unusual mosaic phenotype.