Students will learn and apply techniques used to determine the biochemical pathway involved in the control of genetic pigmentation in the eyes of flies. Students can determine, using fly eye color, where in the biochemical pathway a mutation in eye color has occurred. Students will look at whether or not the gene to make color is expressed, and whether or not the transport protein to deliver the color to the eye is expressed, and how alteration of one or both genes can cause different expression in eye color (epistasis).
This activity uses materials and techniques that are appropriate to the High School lab setting. Extensions to the activity make it a good lab project for AP Biology or IB students.
Click on the links below for the curriculum pieces
- Student Procedure and Analysis
- Teacher Procedures and Resources
- Powerpoint Demonstration of Techniques
- Link to http://mitflies.pbwiki.com/, a wiki site compiled and edited by teachers at the 2008 workshop.