Transgenic construct used to study the mechanisms by which chromosomal position effects can effect expression of a w minigene. A loxP cassette containing a w promoter fragment (-110 to +276) is fused upstream of a promoterless w minigene that lacks the endogenous Wari insulator that is normally located on the 3' side of the w transcription unit. A y+t* marker is present downstream of the w minigene.