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Serological investigation of Drosophila antigens
(1) The complement fixation and precipitation reactions were employed to distinguish antigens prepared from undried Drosophila species. In these tests the only means of standardizing the antigens was on the basis of weight of the fresh fly material. Results were confusing. (2) The complement fixation and precipitation reactions were used to differentiate antigens prepared by extracting different species of dried fruit flies with saline. In these tests the antigens were standardized first, on the basis of their dry weights, and second, by adjusting for nitrogen equivalence. Results in these tests were more uniform than in the preceding experiments. (3) An experiment was performed wherein the complement fixation reaction was used to differentiate the ether-insoluble fractions of antigens prepared from dried Drosophila species. Results were fairly uniform and differed in some cases from the earlier investigations. (4) The optimal ratio reaction was used with ether-insoluble fractions of dried fly antigens. Results were more uniform and more nearly in harmony with taxonomic relations of the Drosophila species investigated than were results of any of the preceeding experiments. (5) Using the optimal antigen-antibody ratios determined in the preceeding experiments, precipitin absorptions were carried out with the same antigens. This is considered the most superior of all the technics employed in this study. (6) The serologic data were compared with taxonomic data regarding the various species of Drosophila. The two methods of investigation of species relationships appeared to yield much the same resultsEcology, Evolution and Behavio