Drosophila Melanogaster: A Genetic Analysis

In this experiment we tested to see what the offspring of an unknown cross of an F1 generation would produce. After observing the F2 generation and recording the data we found some of the Drosophila showed mutations, two in particular. The mutations were the apterus wings, and sepia eyes. After collecting our data through observation, a Chi-test was conducted resulting in a Chi-value of 5.1 and a p-value of .2. Since the p-value was greater than 0.05, there was no significant change in the data. This proved that the Drosophila flies still followed the Mendelian genetics of a 9:3:3:1 ratio.

The goal of this study was to induce a deletion in the DMAP1 gene on chromosome two in Drosophila melanogaster through P-element mobilization. The DMAP1 gene may be an essential gene, however not much is known about it. We attempted to uncover the function of DMAP1 by creating a series of genetic crosses and selecting for brown-eyed non-stubble male flies that may have the deletion. To test whether these flies had the deletion, we produced PCR products and ran them on an agarose gel, which resulted as inconclusive. We created a balanced stock of flies homozygous for the deletion to see if the

Drosophila Melanogaster, commonly known as fruit flies, are highly important model organisms in pertaining to biological research. The logic behind their recurrent use is due to their: easy culture in the laboratory, brief generation time, and ability to produce large numbers of offspring. In this report, we created isolated virgin D. Melanogaster from the original three populations we were given and then created crosses between them. Upon observation, we noticed an unusual mutant that arose from two of the three created crosses. We suspected that this genetic mutation had previously been discovered and named.

MacKay JO, Soanes KH, Srivastava A, Simmonds A, Brook WJ, Bell JB. An in vivo analysis of the vestigial gene in Drosophila melanogaster defines the domains required for Vg function. Genetics. 2003;163(4):1365-1373.

Dr. Tina Henkin’s seminar “Flipping the switch: How cells use RNA to regulate genes expression”, was outlined by four general questions. The first question addressed in the seminar was “Why study Microbes?”. The next, “Why study bacterial gene regulation?”. The third question, “What are the basics of gene expression?”. Finally, “What’s special about riboswitches?”. Dr. Henkin addressed these questions throughout her seminar, which eventually led into to more specific questions of gene expression and predicted hypotheses of her model. However, to understand these more specific questions and predictions it is crucial to understand the first four questions outlined in the beginning of the seminar.

When a gene that codes for a protein names BMP4 is expressed it caused the growing of a finch embryo.

The goal of this four part lab was to inhibit, or turn off, the expression of two chosen genes within Drosophila fly cells. The genes we wanted to inhibit were DRP1 and Thread. DRP1 is responsible for mitochondrial fission while Thread prevents cell death, which is called apoptosis. To inhibit the expression we inserted double stranded RNA, also known as dsRNA, which is an extremely potent method of shutting off genes as it causes RNA interference (Fire et al. 1998).

The common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is often regarded as the model organism for genetic testing due to many factors such as its short reproductive cycle, its similarities to humans, or the ease of tracking mutations in Drosophila melanogaster. The Drosophila melanogaster is used to model diseases such as Cancer, Diabetes, and Huntington’s Disease. By studying the changes in how the proteins interact, the origin of such disease can be found providing a deeper understanding of how to cure these fatal ailments.

A seemingly novel gene sequence has been discovered in fruit flies from Nicholas Harden’s lab at Simon Fraser University using random PCR primers. Attempts at purifying and characterizing this gene have been elusive. Here, we show methods for isolating, amplifying, and purifying the gene of interest for analysis. Using polymerase chain reaction to amplify the gene, it is then ligated into a pGEM-T Easy vector for TA cloning experiments. Transformation for further vector proliferation is done on competent Escherichia coli cells. Subsequently, the vector is purified through plasmid preparation and sent to an off-site location for sequencing. Upon sequence analysis, it is suggested that the gene of interest, will die slowly, belongs to the WD repeat WDR5/wds family, and has implications in histone acetyltransferase activity.

the evolution from a fertilized egg to a developed organism depends on the interpretation of distinct genes at distinct points.In inclusion, gene expression can occur in distinct sections of the body at different times during development. As the fertilized egg starts to break down, different genes are either turned on or off. The awakening of specific genes is the most crucial step in cell differentiation. As the tiger grows and develops, different genes are either turned on or off in the tiger’s assorted cells. This regulation is a key part of development and

These early genes, can exhibit their functions alone, but their functions are stronger and more efficient when they are in combination with each other [4].

Gene Robinson conducted a study to analyze how gene expression develops by switching a group of young European honeybees, a sweet-tempered species, with a young group of African bees, an aggressive species, also known as killer bees (Dobbs, 2013). The bees were placed into the opposite environment to live with the different subspecies (i.e. the young European honeybees were put into the African bees’ hive and vice versa). Robinson predicted that the bees would change in order to adapt and behave similarly to the bees within their environment. In order to conclude the results, Robinson froze the bees to preserve their gene activity in that moment (Dobbs, 2013). Then, each brain was used to analyze how the bees adapted to their new environment. Robinson discovered that hundreds of different genes were either active or silent. The genes were expressed differently to adapt to the context of the environment. The bees were able to fully adapt to their new environment and behave similarly to the opposite subspecies (Dobbs, 2013). However, it was not the genes that had changed, it was the way the genes were expressed that changed the bees.

Another key study, performed by Darlington et al, analyzed the function of dCLOCK, the CLOCK protein in Drosophila. This study confirmed the identity of dclock, investigated the function of dCLOCK in regulation of the circadian genes per and tim, and demonstrated the function of PER and TIM in an inhibitory feedback loop (Darlington et al., 1998). First, a screen for a homolog of the mouse clock gene in Drosophila was conducted using the cDNA library of adult Drosophila heads and a probe of the mClock gene. A high yield of overlap in the clones confirmed the presence of a homolog of the mClock gene in Drosophila (Darlington et al., 1998). A Southern blot of Drosophila genomic DNA with a dclock probe produced only one band, indicating that dclock is in fact a single-copy gene (Darlington et al., 1998). Dclock was then used in a Northern blot to probe RNA from the entire body of Drosophila. Results showed that the probe hybridized to RNA in the head, the body, and the appendages of the fly (Darlington et al., 1998). This showed that the expression of dclock occurs at a variety of locations (Darlington et al., 1998). The expression of dclock was then analyzed in terms of the light-dark cycle. Expression patterns during the 24 hour time period confirmed that dclock oscillates with the circadian rhythm (Darlington et al., 1998). After the initial tests to establish dclock as a circadian gene were completed, the function of the protein dCLOCK in the regulation of transcription of

This experiment studied Mendel’s law of independent assortment through observing three generations of Drosophila melanogaster. His law was examined by looking at the inheritance patterns that predicted genetic linkage, mapping distances and interference. Genes are located along chromosomes and the distances between them vary. During recombination, these genes may become unlinked. The frequency to which this occurs relies on the recombination frequency, in which a greater value represents a greater distance between two loci. By looking at inheritance patterns and recombination frequencies, this experiment showed that white eyes, short wings and forked bristles are X-linked traits. As well, dumpy wings and brown eyes are autosomal traits. The expected ratio of a dihybrid cross of 9:3:3:1, was used to determine linkage between two loci. This was then verified using a chi-square test. Through analysis of our results, linkage existed between white eyes and short wings, as well as between short wings and forked bristles. Linkage was also found for the strains that had dumpy wings and brown eyes.

Introduction: The study of Drosophila has brought great leaps of scientific research with it. As unlikely a candidate they are, studies of Drosophila melanogaster have done much in the way of proving theories, discovering genetically identifiable diseases and much more. Over the past three decades, research on this species has lead researchers to question the developmental processes that Drosophila experience (Bürglin 2016). The embryonic development of Drosophila serves as an important case study for developmental genetics, due to the analogous nature of their embryos cell differentiation. Although Drosophila’s development has very distinct variations when compared to that of vertebrates, there is a commonality between the embryonic development of the nervous system. The similarity between Drosophila and vertebrates gives reason to research the Homeobox genes in order to better understand a multitude of species with homologous development. In particular, the nervous development of Drosophila, could be used to investigate possible cures