Why was Drosophila melanogaster used for studies in Genetics?

(A) They could be cultured easily in the monastery

(B) They showed many contrasting traits

(C) The generation time was one year

(D) There was clear differentiation of sexes

(E) Very few progeny were produced in a single mating

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(B) and (D) only

The correct option is  Option (1) - (B) and (D) only

(B) They showed many contrasting traits

(D) There was clear differentiation of sexes

Experimental verification of the chromosomal theory of inheritance by Thomas Hunt Morgan and his colleagues, led to discovering the basis for the variation that sexual reproduction produced.

Morgan worked with the tiny fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, which were found very suitable for such studies.

They could be grown on simple synthetic medium in the laboratory. They complete their life cycle in about two weeks, and a single mating could produce a large number of progeny flies. Also, there was a clear differentiation of the sexes – the male and female flies are easily distinguishable. Also, it has many types of hereditary variations that can be seen with low power microscopes.