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From Heredity and Genetics: The Dialogue Continued
Sturtevant & Beadle, Introduction to Genetics
In the 1910s, laboratory geneticists began exposing fruit flies to radiation to induce visible mutations. While they did not beget a “Godzilla” fly, they produced a range of mutants with unusual traits such as the different eye colors shown here. Through breeding the mutants and observing their visible characteristics, the researchers quickly gained a deeper understanding of the laws of heredity. This type of inexpensive research quickly spread around the world.
Alfred H. Sturtevant (1891–1970) and George W. Beadle (1903–1989). An Introduction to Genetics. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1939.
