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Even primitive organisms display principles of genetics.
The common Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is the
most widely used animal for genetic studies.
A single female may lay as many as 500 eggs
Their small size makes them easy to store, yet they are
large enough for rapid notation of phenotypes.
This fly is easily cultured and it takes only two weeks for
a new generation at 210 C.
The Fruit Fly has been the subject of genetic studies since
1909 with Thomas Hunt Morgan.
Transparent plastic vials are used as culture vessels
We will use an instant medium formula for our
experiments. Equal volumes of water and medium along
with 5 grains of yeast are mixed in a vial.
Known mutations and locations of fruit fly mutant genes
Ebony body is a recessive mutation
This is the normal dominant wild type fruit fly
The parental cross will be homozygous ebony body flies (ee) with
homozygous wild type flies (++)
There are four stages in the life cycle of a fruit fly.
Two days after emerging, a female can start laying eggs.
It is extremely important that all adult flies be
removed from a culture 8 to 12 hours before it is
used for the selection of virgin females.
FlyNap will be used to anesthetize the fruit flies.
Lay the culture vial on its side while anesthetizing the
flies.
Dip the wand into the FlyNap solution and rub off extra
solution on the lip of the bottle.
Stick the anesthetic tip of the wand into the vial, just
below the plug. Keep the vial on its side until all the flies
are anesthetized.
Immediately spill the flies onto a white card or piece of
paper. You have up to 50 minutes to do your
examination.
Place flies in a row on the paper. Move them with a fine
brush. Separate different kinds and sexes. Place
discarded flies into the morgue.
Dividing flies by type and sex
A Fruit Fly morgue
Sexing Flies
Males have a dark end to the abdomen and the abdomen
is more rounded.
Male – Female fly characteristics
Ventral posterior view of female and male fruit flies
Mating and Counting
Vials are labeled with characteristics of each parent.
6 virgins and 6 males are placed in a culture vial.
7 to 10 days after a cross is started, remove the parents
from the culture.
Review of Anesthetizing Fruit Flies
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Anesthetizing Fruit Flies