Homozygous mutant germline stem cells in the ovary show a 21% reduction in division index compared to control clones.
Germline stem cells in mir-278KO/mir-278Gal4KI females show a 28% reduction in the number of cystoblasts and cysts at region 1-2A in germaria as compared with heterozygous controls 13-14 days after eclosion.
Homozygotes have a normal body size. mir-278KO/mir-278Gal4KI adults are lean, measured as the normalised ratio of total body triglycerides to total protein.