Honors College Theses
Publication Date
4-1-2024
Major
Biology (B.S.B.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Dongyu Jia; Dr. Jennifer Zettler
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster serves as an excellent model organism for many biological processes like gene expression and morphological development. The study focused on the development of squamous cells in Drosophila ovaries by analyzing the ecdysone and JAK/STAT pathways. Following the dissection and fixation of the ovaries, DAPI staining was conducted to visualize the target components. The ecdysone receptor acts as a heterodimer for both USP and EcR. The EcR gene consists of three isoforms, all of which were examined and found to contribute to the accumulation of squamous cells. Additionally, USP was identified as another contributor to squamous cell accumulation. Previous research in the Jia lab revealed that STAT92E, a component of the JAK/STAT pathway, also plays a role in squamous cell accumulation. Consequently, two other components, Upd, and hop, were further investigated and similarly found to contribute to squamous cell accumulation. The collective findings suggest that multiple components of the ecdysone and JAK/STAT pathways are involved in the development of squamous cells, indicating a complex interplay of signaling pathways rather than the influence of individual genes alone.
Recommended Citation
Scarborough, Caroline D., "Drosophila Squamous Cell Development Analysis" (2024). Honors College Theses. 973.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/973
