Matthew 18:11 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Breeding Drosophila Timothy G. Standish, Ph. D.

Why Drosphila melanogaster? Drosophila melanogaster is a kind of fruit fly Why fruit flies? Short generation time (≈ 2 weeks) Survives and breeds well in the lab Very large chromosomes in some cells Many aspects of phenotype are genetically controlled Commercial strains are available Small size Easily sexed

Drosophila Nomenclature + = Wild type, phenotype in nature (i.e. red eyes and round wings) Mutants are alternatives to the wild type Fruit fly genes are named after the mutant Dominant mutations are capitalized (i.e. Hairless or H and Bar or B) Recessive mutants are named using lower case letters (i.e. black or b and white or w)

Antenapedia

Bar Female Male

Dumpy

More Drosophila Mutations Wild Type ++ ebony body ee white eyes ww

Sex Determination Sexing of Drosophila is relatively easy Males have: Different genitals Small black sex combs on their front legs Darker colored hind end Females: Distinctive genitals No sex combs Lighter colored hind end

The End