These individuals probably survive to late developmental stages due to the presence of a maternally provided wild-type product. There is a range of mitotic abnormalities during metaphase and anaphase in third-instar larval neuroblasts. The abnormal metaphase figures are characterized by excessive chromosome condensation, low level of polyploidy, and in some cases, the presence of irregular chromatid condenstion. These abnormal phenotypes are probably not due to the absence of functional spindles, since anaphases can be easily found in these brains. However, most anaphases appear abnormal.
Some anaphases also show a variable degree of chromosome condensation.
This mutation causes an increase in the mitotic index. Mutation of twins causes a pattern duplication in Drosophila imaginal discs. Inactivation of twins induces the formation of extra wing blade anlagen in the posterior compartment. The duplication is mirror symmetrical, and the line of symmetry does not correspond to any of the known compartment borders. The wing duplication in twins is associated with partial losses of engrailed expression outside the wing pouches.