Molecular analysis reveals that all 13 mutations harbor deletions of the Adar locus and comprise several classes. All of the Adar mutants obtained from the P-element screen are conditionally lethal. That is, under ideal growth conditions Adar mutants developed into morphologically normal adults that display profound behavioral deficits and these phenotypes are recessive. One behavioral defect observed in Adar mutant males is an extreme defect in mating. Nevertheless, a rare successful mating between females heterozygous for Adar 2B3 and Adar 2B3 males was able to produce viable progeny amongst which were females homozygous for Adar 2B3 .
Mutant females display behavioral defects similar to hemizygous males.
Females homozygous for all alleles of Adar display mutant behavioral phenotypes similar to hemizygous Adar - males. Since it has been shown that maternal Adar is dispensable, it was of interest to determine whether Adar - animals display normal development in the absence of a zygotic contribution of Adar. The time course of development from egg-laying to pupariation of WT and Adar 1F1 was examined. No significant difference was observed. As well, no significant difference between WT and mutant animals in the time course from onset of pupariation to eclosion into morphologically normal adults was observed.