Amir Blocker&

Olga Bernal

Genetic Control of Organ Size in Fruit Flies

Team C

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

Thomas Hunt Morgan (Nobel Laureate,1933)

What are fruit flies?

Fruit flies have been used in genetics study for over 100 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosophila_melanogaster

• Cancer• Neurological disease (Parkinson's, autism)• Immune disease• Rhythm, vision, olfaction, audition, learning/memory, courtship, pain• Other processes, such as longevity

Application of fruit fly in human disease study:

Life Cycle of fruit flies

Short generation time of 10-14 days (compared to 25 years for human)

Background

• Preparing the bottle: Cut a small U opening

2 inch

Do Not DisturbSEECoS Program

Experiment in Progress

Label

Materials and Methods – (I) Field Fly Trap Experiment

• Preparing the bait: Bananas are mashed and added into the bottle. Add some yeast to promote fermentation.

• Preparing the bottle: Cut a small U opening

Field Fly Trap Experiment

Materials and Methods – (I)

Field Fly Trap Experiment

• Preparing the bait: Bananas are mashed and added into the bottle. Add some yeast to promote fermentation.

• Preparing the bottle: Cut a small U opening

• 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 – (I)

C5-Gal4 (♀) UAS-mats (♂)X

C5-Gal4 (♀) Wild type flies (♂)X

Experimental Crosses:

Control Crosses:

female (♀) Male (♂)

Differentiating male and female flies under dissecting microscope (with 100% accuracy)

Setting up crosses

Examination of tumor suppressor gene function in wing size

Note: The tumor suppressor gene, mats, is going to be expressed in fly wings of the offspring.

Materials and Methods – (II)

Dissect fly wings using forceps

Mount fly wings on glass slides

X

Collect wing images using SPOT Camera and Software

Measure wing sizes using Image J software

Data analysis using Microsoft Excel

Materials and Methods – (II)

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.

C5-Gal4 (control) C5-mats

Results – (II) Examination of tumor suppressor gene function in wing size

A B

A’ B’ *

A, A’: wild type control flies

B, B’: flies carrying tumor suppressor gene (mats)

(n>20)

Conclusion

(I) Field flies we trapped belong to the same species of lab flies.

(II) Tumor suppressor gene reduces the wing size.

Supporting hypothesis (I):

-- Field flies are the same as lab flies.

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.

Instructor: Mr. Eric Speight

Acknowledgement

Faculty: Dr. Zhi-Chun Lai

Mentor: Ms. Xin Ye

Dr. Jackie Bortiatynski

Ms. Jody Markley

All UBMS Staff

Mr. Derek Ja mes