Genetic control of cell proliferation in female germ line cells of Drosophila: mosaic analysis of five discless mutations.

The 'discless' mutations are zygotic lethals of Drosophila melanogaster with lethal phase at the larva/pupa boundary. They have been shown to identify genes whose functions are required for cell proliferation in the soma. We analysed mosaic females (generated by pole cell transplantation or by the dominant female sterile technique) with mutant germ line and normal soma and concluded that (1) the discless genes are required for the proliferation of the female germ line cells. (2) The discless genes are expressed during oogenesis and (3) as suggested by indirect evidence, the maternally provided gene products are necessary for cell proliferation in the embryo. It is suggested, that the same sets of genes control proliferation in the soma, germ line and-through the maternal effect-embryos in Drosophila.