Insertion in the 5' untranslated region.
No premature mitochondrial nucleoid elimination is observed in EndoGIe00915 mutant spermatids.
Homozygous males raised on rich medium are infertile when crossed with wild-type females.
Homozygotes show lower viability than normal flies, dying during late development but at no specific stage, and their viability is strongly influenced by genetic background and diet (no homozygotes are recovered if the mutants are cultured on less rich medium).
It has not been possible to excise the insertion to demonstrate whether or not the lethality associated with the chromosome is caused by the insertion.