Introduction
The objective of this experiment was to determine if endomitosis takes place in the salivary glands of Drosophila virilis larvae. I hypothesize that endomitosis will be present in the salivary glands of the species Drosophila virilis larvae. The existence of several other Drosophila species which have endomitosis occur in their salivary glands has lead me to my hypothesis.
Discussion
Endomitosis occurs in the salivary glands of the Drosphila virilis larvae as stated by my hypothesis, this was proven by the presence of polytene chromosomes in the salivary glands of Drosophila virilis larvae as shown in figure 1 of the results section. “Polytene chromosomes are a specific type of interphase chromosomes consisting of thousands of DNA strands” (1). “Polyteny is found in both tissues and organs during their developmental stages when there is a need for a high rate of development in a organ at an unaltered high level of function”(1), endomitosis could be considered a developmental stage that requires a high rate of development in a given organ or tissue. Furthermore organs that contain cells with polytene chromosomes are known to be involved in “intense secretory functions accomplished during a short time against a background of rapid growth”(1), such as salivary glands. “The pattern of bands and interbands in each polytene chromosome is specific for the species”(1), this could mean that the chromosomes are either from a different type of organ/tissue or they are at different developmental stages. Comparing the D. virilis in figure 1 to the chromosome to the human chromosome in figure 2 many more strands can be observed in the D. virilis chromosome along with bands and interbands, this could mean that the D.virilis chromosome is at a higher developmental stage than the human chromosome. In conclusion my hypothesis is supported by the results of the experiment, the presence of polytene chromosomes in the salivary glands of the...