The peripheral nervous system of mutants of early neurogenesis inDrosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Mutations previously known to affect early neurogenesis inDrosophila melanogaster have been found also to affect the development of the peripheral nervous system. Anti-HRP antibody staining has shown that larval epidermal sensilla of homozygous mutant embryos occur in increased numbers, which depend on the allele considered. This increase is apparently due to the development into sensory organs of cells which in the wild-type would have developed as non-sensory epidermis. Thus, neurogenic genes act whenever developing cells have to decide between neurogenic and epidermogenic fates, both in central and peripheral nervous systems. Different regions of the ectodermal germ layer are distinguished with respect to their neurogenic abilities.