Techniques have been developed in our laboratory which permit the study of growth patterns under a variety of experimental conditions. The experimental subject under investigation is the larva of the common fruit fly Drosophilia melanogaster. Studies involving exposure of the organism to thermal, gravitational, electromagnetic, and magnetic agents have already been conducted. A particular advantage of employing the larvae is that they possess a relatively rapid and simple growth pattern from which experimental constants can be obtained and statistically analyzed. During their 96-hour growth period, the approximate time from the hatching of the egg to pupae formation, the larvae need only be interrupted for about one-half hour each day for purposes of measurement. Growth patterns have been fitted to curves predicted by Compound-Interest and Verhulst-Reed-Pearl Equations. During the early growth phase excellent fit can be obtained to the exponential curve predicted by the former equation.
Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science
©1961 Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.
Moressi, William J.; Herrin, William F.; and Wunder, Charles C.
"Experimental and Mathematical Techniques for Kinetic Studies of Larval Fruit Fly Growth,"
Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 68(1), 603-615.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol68/iss1/84