The Effect Of Variation At Transcription Factor Binding Sites On Drosophila And Humans

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

The mapping of human genes has allowed for certain genetic disorders to be identified according to the genes that it is affecting. This has created a map that other individuals' genes can be compared to in order to determine any mistakes or any alterations that may lead to the development of a disease. Any changes in epigenetic

Genetics can help answer questions about our traits and why we look different and advance in different ways from each other in the world. Chapter 1 explains the basics about how genes work, and the portrayal of DNA and RNA. Chapter 2 describes RNA more in detail and it consist of the explanation of the human genome. Specifically, Chapter 3 clarifies how evolution works and how it relates to genetic and medical research. Furthermore, Chapter 4 and 5 explains the knowledge researchers have about genes role in health and diseases, and how society is affected with the advances in medicine and science given approximate credit to these researchers.

The recently completed human genome sequence has greatly assisted the detection of QTLs and polymorphisms (2). It must also be emphasized that genes do not directly dictate action, but rather are mediated by the proteins that they code for. It is necessary to examine not only the genes but also the assortment of proteins responsible for expression of particular traits (3)It is anticipated that detailed analysis of the human genome will contribute to understandings about gene organization and transcription, and hence regulatory elements that control expression. By utilizing genomic and proteomic tools, the relationship between gene/protein and behavior may be more accurately described.

Genes can either be sex-linked or autosomal. If a gene appears mostly in one sex chances are the gene is sex-linked and if it appears frequently in both sexes it is most likely autosomal. Using Drosophila melanogaster, also known as the fruit fly, we will determine whether the gene is sex-linked or autosomal. Drosophila melanogasters have a relatively short life span and are an excellent organism for genetic studies because it has simple food requirements, occupies little space, is hardy, completes its life cycle in about 12 days at room temperature, produces large numbers of offspring, can be immobilized readily for examination and

The book begins by exploring gene variations in the human genome, and finding genes that show “strong signs of selection” over the last 10,000 years or so. This is possible due to relatively recent

we said goodbye and placed them in the fly morgue. We allowed the F2 larval

The Drosophila melanogaster is one of genetics most studied organisms. This is due to the Drosophila melanogaster being an excellent model organism. The Drosophila melanogaster has a short lifespan and is genetically similar to humans (Adams 2000). This experiment had three major goals. The first goal of this experiment was to determine which eye colors, body colors and wing type are dominant or recessive. The second goal was to determine if the gene for eye colors, body colors and wing type are on an autosomal or a sex chromosome. The third goal was to determine if eye colors, body colors and wing type are physically linked or independently assorting (Morris and Cahoon). First

The population geneticist is a professor in the UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and serves as a core member in the Quantitative Biosciences Institute and the Institute for Human Genetics.

This experiment looks at the relationship between genes, generations of a population and if genes are carried from one generation to another. By studying Drosophila melanogaster, starting with a parent group we crossed a variety of flies and observe the characteristics of the F1 generation. We then concluded that sex-linked genes and autosomal genes could indeed be traced through from the parent generation to the F1 generation.

The human genome has evolved over millions of years through the process of natural selection (Leicht 157). The hypothesis of natural selection was first proposed in The Origin of Species, written by Charles Darwin in 1859 (157). It was written that traits are heritable, and that if a individual carries a trait that gives a higher chance of survival, it will successfully pass the trait onto more offspring than an individual lacking in a successful trait (157). On this basis, we set off to examine genetic variation within the student body of the Foundations of Biology class. Analysis of genetic variation among human populations of today provide insights into past migrations and founder events (161). By examining genotype frequencies and different alleles of different loci, we can learn about the evolutionary forces and events of human history that have produced the current trait distributions that we see today. The fact that we can study these alleles and their frequencies gives us insight into how humans evolved into what we are today. Many important findings can be found by studying these alleles, such as whether the allele has been a long term balancing selection at a locus, or whether it may be a relatively new allele within a specific population of humans that may not have migrated into other populations yet.

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

Thus, with a great deal of available information, the outstanding online database (FlyBase: containing sequence and annotation data), easily accessible Fly stocks, and advance and varied techniques to manipulate genes, Drosophila serves as a perfect organism to study biological

Many traits incorporated into the design of the Drosophila, commonly known as the fruit fly, make it an optimal specimen for scientific research. Their short life cycle, averaging between twelve and fourteen days, and ability to be easily manipulated through controlled mating allows scientist the opportunity to create large sample sizes with great ease. Although these tiny creatures have been around since the days of ancient Greece, they were not thrown into the scientific spot light until Dr. Thomas Hunt Morgan, an embryologist at Columbia University in New York, incorporated them into his study on sex limited inheritance. By isolating mutant flies and performing test crosses he was able to determine that genes were in fact located on chromosomes and therefore, create a deeper understanding of heredity. In 1910 he discovered a white-eyed variant that became the fuel behind the new field of genetics. Throughout the following years, Morgan and his contemporaries established the foundations of classical genetics, leading to a Nobel Prize for Morgan in 1933.