Genetic Dissection of Behavior: Modulation of Locomotion by Light in the Drosophila melanogaster Larva Requires Genetically Distinct Visual System Functions

The Drosophila larva modulates its pattern of locomotion when exposed to light. Modulation of locomotion can be measured as a reduction in the distance traveled and by a sharp change of direction when the light is turned on. When the light is turned off this change of direction, albeit significantly smaller than when the light is turned on, is still significantly larger than in the absence of light transition. Mutations that disrupt adult …