You Are Maintaining a Small Population of Fruit Flies in the Laboratory

question 13

Multiple Choice

You are maintaining a small population of fruit flies in the laboratory by transferring the flies to a new culture bottle after each generation. After several generations, you notice that the viability of the flies has decreased greatly. Recognizing that small population size is likely to be linked to decreased viability, the best way to reverse this trend is to

• A) cross your flies with flies from another lab.
• B) reduce the number of flies that you transfer at each generation.
• C) transfer only the largest flies.
• D) change the temperature at which you rear the flies.
• E) shock the flies with a brief treatment of heat or cold to make them more hardy.

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Definitions:

Sensory Neurons

Sensory neurons are nerve cells that transmit sensory information (e.g., touch, sound, vision) from the body's periphery to the central nervous system.

Motor Neurons

Nerve cells responsible for converting signals from the brain or spinal cord to action by muscles or glands.

Somatic Nervous System

A part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements of the body through the control of muscles.

Voluntary Muscles

Muscles that can be consciously controlled, such as those involved in moving arms or legs.