The homeotic gene spineless-aristapedia affects geotaxis in Drosophila melanogaster.

The homeotic mutation spineless-aristapedia (ss(a)) transforms the aristae into second tarsi. Flies with a ss(a) phenotype also show extremely positive geotaxis as measured in a Hirsch-type geotaxis maze. Other antennal mutants and flies with their aristae amputated do not show such extreme positive geotaxis. Deletion analysis has comapped the geotaxis effect with ss(a) in band 89C on the third chromosome. Finally, a biometrical analysis has detected additional genes on the X chromosome that also affects geotaxis.