The Study of Fruit Fly Genetics and Wing Structure
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Transcript The Study of Fruit Fly Genetics and Wing Structure
Team C
Genetic Control of Organ Size in
Fruit Flies
Amir Blocker
&
Olga Bernal
Objectives
(I) To observe field flies and lab flies.
(II) To understand how a tumor suppressor gene
regulates fly wing size.
Hypothesis
(I) Field flies are the same as lab flies.
(II) Tumor suppressor gene does not affect fly wing
size.
Background
What are fruit flies?
Fruit flies have been used in
genetics study for over 100 years.
Application of fruit fly in human
disease study:
Thomas Hunt Morgan
(Nobel Laureate,1933)
• Cancer
• Neurological disease (Parkinson's,
autism)
• Immune disease
• Rhythm, vision, olfaction, audition,
learning/memory, courtship, pain
• Other processes, such as longevity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosophila_melanogaster
Background
Short generation time of 10-14 days (compared to 25 years for human)
Life Cycle of
fruit flies
Materials and Methods – (I)
Field Fly Trap Experiment
• Preparing the bottle: Cut a small U opening
Label
2 inch
Do Not Disturb
SEECoS Program
Experiment in Progress
Materials and Methods – (I)
Field Fly Trap Experiment
• Preparing the bottle: Cut a small U opening
• Preparing the bait: Bananas are mashed and added into the
bottle. Add some yeast to promote fermentation.
Materials and Methods – (I)
Field Fly Trap Experiment
• Preparing the bottle: Cut a small U opening
• Preparing the bait: Bananas are mashed and added into the
bottle. Add some yeast to promote fermentation.
• Deploying the trap: Attach the trap to a tree limb
• Checking the trap:
fly number, weather condition, bait condition
• Collecting flies from the trap
• Observing the flies
- Use dissecting microscope
- Body color, eye color, head shape, size, gender
Materials and Methods – (II)
Examination of tumor suppressor gene function in
wing size
Differentiating male and female flies under dissecting
microscope (with 100% accuracy)
female (♀)
Male (♂)
Setting up crosses
Experimental Crosses: C5-Gal4 (♀) X UAS-mats (♂)
Control Crosses:
C5-Gal4 (♀) X Wild type flies (♂)
Note: The tumor suppressor gene, mats, is going to be expressed in fly
wings of the offspring.
Materials and Methods – (II)
X
Dissect fly wings using forceps
Mount fly wings on glass slides
Collect wing images using SPOT Camera and Software
Measure wing sizes using Image J software
Data analysis using Microsoft Excel
Results – (I)
Field Fly Trap Experiment (2 weeks later)
front view
back view
Results – (I)
Field Fly Trap Experiment
lab fly
field fly
No difference was seen between the lab and field flies.
Results – (II)
Examination of tumor suppressor gene function in
wing size
A, A’: wild type control flies
C5-Gal4 (control)
A
C5-mats
B
B, B’: flies carrying tumor
suppressor gene (mats)
Relative Wing Size
1.2
C5-Gal4
1
C5-mats
0.8
0.6
A’
B’
*
0.4
0.2
1
0.26
0
1
(n>20)
Conclusion
(I) Field flies we trapped belong to the same
species of lab flies.
Supporting hypothesis (I):
-- Field flies are the same as lab flies.
(II) Tumor suppressor gene reduces the wing size.
Denying the hypothesis (II):
-- Tumor suppressor gene does not affect fly wing
size.
Future Research
• Use different baits to see whether other species of
flies will be attracted.
• Examine the function of another kind of tumor
suppressor gene.
• Examine the function of tumor suppressor gene in
different tissues other than wings, such as eyes,
heads, legs, etc.
Acknowledgement
Faculty: Dr. Zhi-Chun Lai
Mentor: Ms. Xin Ye
Dr. Jackie Bortiatynski
Instructor: Mr. Eric Speight
Ms. Jody Markley
Mr. Derek Ja mes
All UBMS Staff