The Functional Significance of Amylase Polymorphism in Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

Larvae of two variants of Drosophila melanogaster were raised on aseptic chemically defined media and flies of these strains were fed with carbohydrate solutions. The results of these experiments demonstrated that maltose has the same nutritive value as starch in larvae. Adult flies of both strains lived longer on maltose solutions than on solutions with glucose or starch or without any carbohydrates. Higher carbohydrate concentrations resulted in a proportional longer duration of adult life.