INDUCTION OF UNSTABLE MUTATIONS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER BY THE MICROINJECTION OF ONCOGENIC VIRAL DNA INTO THE POLAR PLASM OF EMBRYOS: THE INSERTIONAL NATURE OF THE MUTATIONS.

Abstract

MUTATIONS INDUCED BY THE MICROINJECTION OF ADENOVIRUS SA7 DNA INTO THE POLAR PLASM OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER EMBRYOS WERE SHOWN TO BE OF THE INSERTIONAL TYPE. THE INSERTED ELEMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE MUTATIONS WERE ENDOGENOUS TRANSPOSONS RATHER THAN VIRAL SEQUENCES. THUS, GENETIC INSTABILITY ACTIVATED BY ONCOVIRAL DNA RESULTED FROM THE ABILITY OF THESE DNA SEQUENCES TO INDUCE TRANSPOSITION OF MOBILE ELEMENTS IN THE RECIPIENT GENOMES.