Ribosomal gene magnification in Drosophila: a chromosomal change.

The sex-linked mutant "bobbed" can undergo a rapid phenotypic reversion during a prescribed series of outcrosses. The experiments reported here distinguish between two general genetic models. The first is that the phenotypic change results from the changing genetic background brought about by the outcrosses. The second is that the phenotypic change results from an alteration of the X chromosome in the germ line. The data support the second model. It is shown that both the bobbed and reverted phenotypes segregate from the same female. In addition, the reverted phenotype maps in or near the proximal heterochromatin of the X chromosome, which is the standard map position of both bobbed and the nucleolus organizer.