Fruit Fly, Drosophila melanogaster, genetic cross Research Paper

Fruit Fly, Drosophila melanogaster, genetic cross - Research Paper ExampleThis basic level of seek upholds the future of genetic research and leads into exciting new discoveries for the future. Introduction The insect species known as Drosophila melanogaster, or the increase fly, is an extremely valuable forge for genetic research. Both current and historical discoveries have been made using fruit flies. Research on gene function all the way up to the Nobel Prize-winning level has been performed using these insects (Mummery, Wilmut, Stolpe, & Roelen, 2010). One famous example of historical research is that of Thomas Hunt Morgan of Columbia University in the early 20th century. Morgan had been hoping to study impulsive mutation, but instead found something far more useful he was the first to understand sex-linkage in hereditary traits (Kandel, 2000). Fruit flies are so valuable as research models in part because of the peculiarity of animal evolution that resulted in the genetic s tructure of the fruit fly being standardized to much more complex animals such as humans (Mummery et al., 2010). Because of this, developmental and cellular growth activities are very similar, and results learned from Drosophila melanogaster can be extrapolated into research potential for opposite organisms. Their rapid genesis time and small size mean that while other organisms could be extrapolated in the same way, fruit flies are ideal for laboratory work in a way that rodents or larger mammals are not. They are also commonly apply because the sequencing of their genome is functionally complete, making research into gene function more efficient. Once a gene sequence is known, it is easier to follow that gene through breeding and stop its function (Celniker et al., 2000). The most basic level of fruit fly genetic studies come tos crossing and observing the results of visible phenotypic mutations. The most obvious of these phenotypic mutations involve the wings, as these are e asily seen under low levels of magnification. Of these obvious wing mutations, the most easily identified is the apterous phenotype. Flies possessing the apterous phenotype completely neediness wings and are flightless. Examples of the various wing mutations can be seen in Figure 1 below. Fig. 1 Drosophila melanogaster wing mutations. 1 = notch, 2 = delta, 3 = vestigial, 4 = antlered, 5 = curled, and 6 = apterous (Shevchenko, 1968) Since this mutation is so easily identified, it reduces the chance of observational error when counting the results, and so the apterous mutation is the wizard being studied in this experiment. The apterous phenotype is recessive, and a cross between these apterous flies and the wild-type is a simple monohybrid cross. Therefore, using Mendels laws as a guide, the F2 generation of this cross is hypothesized to produce a ratio of wild-type to apterous flies of 31 (Flagg, 1981). This is the null hypothesis. Conversely, the alternate hypothesis is that the r atio will be something other than 31. Materials and Methods The materials utilise in this experiment were pure-bred wild-type Drosophila melanogaster, pure-bred apterous Drosophila melanogaster, plastic culture vials and stoppers, food media made from Formula 4-24 Instant Drosophila Medium, used for fly growth, breeding, and storage. For the counting and observation portions of the experiment, the materials needed were an ice water bath, petri