Discreteness of survival curves. I. Deviations from the Gompertz law in Drosophila melanogaster Canton-S strain

Resumo

Analysis of the age-specific mortality dynamics in the male imago of the Drosophila melanogaster Canton-S strain demonstrated pronounced deviations from the Gompertz law. Four successive observations carried out in large drosophila cohorts made it possible to determine that the survival curves of the objects within the cohort lifetime consist of five discrete regions (phases) divided by sharp inflections. All of the indicated regions are linear. A rigid genetic determination for the disclosed character of the investigated curves was hypothesized.