A Genetic Screen to Identify the Roles of Human Genes in Drosophila
Location
Presentation- College of Science and Mathematics
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis Presentation (Archived)
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Dongyu Jia
Faculty Mentor Email
djia@georgiasouthern.edu
Presentation Year
2021
Start Date
26-4-2021 12:00 AM
End Date
30-4-2021 12:00 AM
Keywords
Georgia Southern University, Honors Symposium, Presentation
Description
Biological organisms follow strict gene expression for the formation of living tissues. Any variation in this highly regulated genetic expression can cause abnormalities in the tissues. Recent research has shown certain human genes have interfered with both the formation of tissues and progression of certain cancers. Drosophila is a commonly used human disease model for genetic testing due to its cheap upkeep cost and conserved genome. Our lab conducted a genetic screen to identify which human genes cause an alteration in the morphology of the Drosophila eye. Virgin female GMR-GAL4 flies were crossed with males containing human genes from the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center. The offspring were analyzed for abnormal eye tissues and photographed using a light microscope and SEM microscope. We found and identified several genes that modified the morphology of the Drosophila eye tissue such as reduced eye size, disorganized ommatidia, ommatidia apoptosis, increased eye bristles, reduced eye bristles, and rough eye. This screening allowed us to identify which human genes will be of interest to experiment further with. Using our screen, we demonstrate how hundreds of human genes can be rapidly tested and analyzed for interferences in the genetic expression of the Drosophila eye through morphological expression.
Academic Unit
College of Science and Mathematics
A Genetic Screen to Identify the Roles of Human Genes in Drosophila
Presentation- College of Science and Mathematics
Biological organisms follow strict gene expression for the formation of living tissues. Any variation in this highly regulated genetic expression can cause abnormalities in the tissues. Recent research has shown certain human genes have interfered with both the formation of tissues and progression of certain cancers. Drosophila is a commonly used human disease model for genetic testing due to its cheap upkeep cost and conserved genome. Our lab conducted a genetic screen to identify which human genes cause an alteration in the morphology of the Drosophila eye. Virgin female GMR-GAL4 flies were crossed with males containing human genes from the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center. The offspring were analyzed for abnormal eye tissues and photographed using a light microscope and SEM microscope. We found and identified several genes that modified the morphology of the Drosophila eye tissue such as reduced eye size, disorganized ommatidia, ommatidia apoptosis, increased eye bristles, reduced eye bristles, and rough eye. This screening allowed us to identify which human genes will be of interest to experiment further with. Using our screen, we demonstrate how hundreds of human genes can be rapidly tested and analyzed for interferences in the genetic expression of the Drosophila eye through morphological expression.
Comments
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