What is the scientific name of the insect used by Thomas Hunt Morgan to establish the Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance?

What is the scientific name of the insect used by Thomas Hunt Morgan to establish the Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance?

• A. Mus musculus
• B. Drosophila simulans
• C. Drosophila melanogaster
• D. Bombyx mori

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is how a model organism can reveal that genes are carried on chromosomes. Thomas Hunt Morgan chose the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, because it reproduces quickly, produces many offspring, and has clear, visible mutations that can be tracked across generations. His famous work showed a sex-linked inheritance pattern with a mutation like white eyes, which is carried on the X chromosome. This direct observation linked a heritable trait to a specific chromosome, providing the crucial evidence that genes occupy loci on chromosomes and are passed down in accordance with chromosomal behavior. The other options are different animals or closely related species not used in this pioneering demonstration, so they don’t fit as the organism Morgan used.

The key idea here is how a model organism can reveal that genes are carried on chromosomes. Thomas Hunt Morgan chose the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, because it reproduces quickly, produces many offspring, and has clear, visible mutations that can be tracked across generations. His famous work showed a sex-linked inheritance pattern with a mutation like white eyes, which is carried on the X chromosome. This direct observation linked a heritable trait to a specific chromosome, providing the crucial evidence that genes occupy loci on chromosomes and are passed down in accordance with chromosomal behavior. The other options are different animals or closely related species not used in this pioneering demonstration, so they don’t fit as the organism Morgan used.