Clonal analysis ofsex-lethal, a gene needed for female sexual development inDrosophila melanogaster.

The mutationSxl f , located on the X-chromosome, is a sex-limited recessive lethal that specifically kills 2X; 2A flies while it does not affect X; 2A flies (Cline 1978). We have analyzed the role ofSxl f on sex determination by a clonal analysis of a new spontaneous allele,Sxl fLS . Female embryos and larvae heterozygous forSxl fLS were irradiated at different times of development to generate homozygousSxl fLS clones which were recognized by linked marker mutations. We have studied the phenotype of such clones on sexually dimorphic regions of the fly (foreleg basitarsus, 5th, 6th and 7th tergites, analia and external genitalia). Despite their female (2X; 2A) chromosomal constitution, clones homozygous forSxl fLS differentiated male structures. These results confirm and extend the preliminary report of Cline (1979). They show that the wildtype product ofSxl f is required for female development.