Novel mutations affecting appendage growth and body size in Drosophila melanogaster
Sally Salah
Most organisms grow and develop into a preset size and shape. One of our objectives is to understand the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for organismal growth control. In order to identify these mechanisms, we are studying mutations in two novel genes. The mutation of the first gene specifically affects wing disc growth, and mutation of the second results in a dramatic reduction in overall body size. We are using classical molecular-genetic approaches to identify the genes responsible for these two distinct growth defects.