[Campbell Biology P.344] Which of the following was NOT a reason Thomas Hunt Morgan chose th... | Practice Question

Which of the following was NOT a reason Thomas Hunt Morgan chose the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as an experimental organism?

  • A: They have a short generation time (two weeks).
  • B: A single mating produces hundreds of offspring.
  • C: They have only four pairs of chromosomes.
  • D: Many different mutant varieties were readily available.

Explanation

The text explicitly contrasts Morgan's situation with Mendel's. It states, 'While Mendel could readily obtain different pea varieties from seed suppliers, Morgan was probably the first person to want different varieties of the fruit fly.' This means he had to find the mutants himself, which was a tedious task, not a pre-existing advantage.