The RNA expression pattern for Draf, a Drosophila homolog of Raf-1, during Drosophila oogenesis and development were examined by in situ hybridization. During oogenesis, Draf transcripts are not present in germarium region but present in nurse-oocyte cell complex from stage 2 onwards. In mature oocyte, the maternally derived Draf transcripts are homogeneously distributed. At cellular blastoderm stage, Draf transcript are predominantly distributed in the peripheral cells. During and after gastrulation, regions corresponding to cell proliferation, the neural cell precursors and the central nervous system express Draf at high levels. During larval development, Draf is strongly expressed in the imaginal disc cells and the salivary glands. The strong expression of the Draf in the central nervous system during embryogenesis suggest that the Draf gene may also play a role in the nervous system.