Drosophila melanogaster

The unknown mutant of Drosophila melanogaster numbered 948 displayed eye characteristics different from the wild-type. The most prominent difference in mutant 948 eye compared to the wild-type eye appeared to be its size and color. The mutant Drosophila eye is smaller in size and has a darker red pigmentation. In addition to these variable phenotypic characteristics, the mutant 948 has more ocular shaped eyes and its outer bristles on the lateral side of each eye are significantly less…

Scientific experiments and observations have led to many discoveries, which in turn have allowed scientists to develop a better understanding on the way diseases originate in humans. Molecular biology in particular has allowed scientists to discover the way in which domains, found in proteins impact a genome. Domains are autonomous folding units that carry out specific functions and mechanisms in a certain protein. These functions consist of being responsible for interactions in the cell, which…

decrease in life span and female sterility. Ap is required to regulate gene expression needed for the development of Drosophila wings and haltere discs. Decreased ap activity due to the overexpression of dLMO results in wing mutations. The phenotypes displayed in apterous mutants are places them at a disadvantage compared to wild type flies. Introduction Drosophila melanogaster with apterous mutations usually lack fully functional wings. There are many distinct phenotypes expressed with this…

Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) regulate IIS function. In Drosophila melanogaster, there are seven Drosophila ILP (dilp) genes. One of which is dilp2, a gene that encodes a peptide that closely mimics human insulin. Insulin-producing cells (IPCs) are analogous in function to pancreatic β cells in mammals. In Drosophila hemolymph, IPCs are necessary for carbohydrate homeostasis. When IPCs are explicitly removed, developmental delays occur…

organelle which produces ATP or energy for all cells. The ATP produced by the mitochondria can be used to measure certain physical activities of fruit flies. In this experiment the development, climbing, flight, and in vitro activity of Drosophilia Melanogaster flies were tested. Three different strands of flies were used. One strand was the wild-type (wt) fly, which had normal mitochondria without any mutations. Another stand was the W501 strain (hybrid) which had its mitochondria removed…

bending to the side of the scutum. The tip of these bristles look melted. The sizzled appearance of the phenotype makes the name of hot cheeto appropriate for this mutant. The bristles of the wild type Drosophila melanogaster are long, slick, and black. The posterior scutellar bristles in D. melanogaster are two long bristles attached to the end of the scutellum and projected in an outward V-shape. Yet, in hot cheeto, the V-shape projection is not present because the short bristles curled to…

study above and in this proposal lies in the use of a small model organism (Drosophila melanogaster) with a well-defined behavioral assay (aversive olfactory long-term memory (LTM)) and identified neural circuitry underlying this behavior (olfactory pathway-see Fig. 1A). Using the fruit fly circumvents the complexity comprising the mammalian brain and the distributed nature of behavioral circuits. Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) are ideal for this type of work because of their well-defined…

nutrients will have been refined and enhanced heavily over time. This is due to the high importance of this trait for survival and reproduction. Fruit flies (Drosophila Melanogaster) represent a model organism for observing and analyzing behaviours related to gathering nutrients due the isolation and simplicity of the gene that causes them. D. Melanogaster exhibit distinct foraging behaviours determined primarily by the type of their for gene (LM 8). The for gene has only two variations. These…

Father of modern genetics, Gregor Mendel, is well known for his garden pea plant experiment in which he discovered the phenomenon of “dominant” and “recessive” traits (Orel, 1996). His experiments led him to what is known as today’s Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance: Law of Segregation, Law of Independent Assortment, and Law of Dominance (Orel, 1996). The Law of Segregation states two alleles for a heritable character separate from each other during gamete formation and end up in different gametes…

Drosophila melanogaster has been studied in genetic research laboratories for almost a century. Because the fruit fly has a short lifespan, a simple genome, and is easily made to reproduce in captivity it is a prime candidate for genetic research. (Patterson, et al., 1943) The major behavioral response noted in the fruit flies is that they tended to group together in clusters, as opposed to venturing off on their own into different sectors. D. melanogaster are attracted to food and will mate…