Heterozygote adults show no transformation phenotype. Hemizygotes are viable at 22oC. Homozygotes are larval lethal. trxM17/trxred-P6 hemizygotes show phenotypes that suggest decreased Scr function (transformation of T1 structures to a T2 identity), decreased Ubx function (transformation of T3 to T2), and decreased Abd-B function (transformation of posterior abdominal segments to more anterior abdominal identities). Scr group transformations include the development of mesothoracic tibial preapical bristles or mesothoracic tibial apical bristles on the prothoracic tibia, reduced numbers of sex comb teeth (in males) and development of sternopleural bristles on the T1 segment. Ubx group transformations include haltere to wing, the development of T3 sternopleural bristles, mesothoracic tibial preapical bristles or mesothoracic tibial apical bristles on the metathoracic tibia. Abd-B group transformations include, the pigmentation of abdominal tergites 5 to 6 in males, and enlargement of abdominal tergite 7. trxM17/amorph (trx6.1, trxD, trxB11, trxA7, trxM14, trxZ15, trxJY25, trx7.1, trx7.1) flies occasionally develop posterior wing abnormalities and anterior wing duplications. trx6.1/trxM17 flies develop mirror image eye duplications and have several abnormal bristles on the lateral labellum.
Partial complementation between hypomorphs produced phenotypes that were weaker than either of the hemizygous or homozygous phenotypes, either rescuing lethality or producing a weaker homeotic transformation phenotype. Transformations range from an average from 0.01 to 3.83 transformations/fly (males were scored for a possible 29 transformations, females were scored for a possible 26 transformations) in different allelic combinations.
The following alleles form a series of progressively increasing penetrance and expressivity of phenotype when in transheterozygous combination with trx1 : trxM17 > trxZ32 > trxZ16 > trxZ11 > trxM18 = trxJY16 > trxE3.