Mapping Irradiation Sensitivity in Drosophila melanogaster

Organisms are constantly bombarded by various mutagens present in their surroundings. These mutagens have the potential to cause damage to an organism's DNA, resulting in mutations and even death at high concentrations. Therefore, for an organism to maintain its fitness, it is crucial to possess a certain degree of mutagen tolerance. Additionally, since the level of exposure to mutagens varies widely over time, organisms experience diverse selection pressures that are predicted to increase the number of organisms with a higher mutagen tolerance. Despite this, the genetic factors responsible for natural variations in mutagen tolerance remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we utilized an X-QTL, pooled-sequencing method using the DSPR to identify the genetic determinants of mutagen tolerance.