Mutant flies show a significant decrease in ommochrome and drosopterin pigment levels compared to wild type.
Mutant flies have reduced red pigment in the eye compared to controls.
Mutant males have a shortened adult life span compared to controls, with a mean life span of 31.57 days at 25o.
Eye colour: the drosopterin (red pigment) content of
rb1 flies is reduced to 25% of wild type. Eye colour: the drosopterin (red pigment) content of
g1 rb1 double mutant flies is reduced to 18% of wild type. Eye colour: the xanthommatin (brown pigment) content of
rb1 flies is reduced to 58% of wild type. Eye colour: the xanthommatin (brown pigment) content of
g1 rb1 double mutant flies is reduced to 41% of wild type.
Examination of mutant eyes reveal a dramatic decrease in the number of electron dense pigment granules seen surrounding groups of photoreceptor cells. Examination of retinula cells from
rb1 mutants reveals normal neuronal anatomy, including normal cytoplasmic synaptic vesicles (SVs). In an assay for larval motility,
rb1 mutants performed as well as wild-type larvae. In locomotor assays testing olfactory response to propionic acid,
rb1 mutants perform significantly less well than wild-type larvae.
Malpighian tubule colour: pale yellow.
Development of pigment autonomous in eye discs transplanted into wild-type hosts.
RK1. Eye colour: clear ruby. Ocellus colour: colourless. Testis colour: colourless.