Instructor: Marc Halfon
E-mail: mshalfon@buffalo.edu
Topic: Segmentation and patterning in Drosophila I
In the next two weeks, we'll do a brief overview of the historical role of the fruit fly in pushing the frontiers of the molecular genetics of development, review some of the key experimental techniques available to Drosophila researchers, and discuss the general mechanisms by which embryonic polarity and segmentation is established. Today we'll focus on early axis formation and especially on how dorsal-ventral polarity is established; next week, on segmentation.
Assigned reading:
A classic older paper that explores the nature of the ventralizing signal using a combination of genetics and biochemistry.
One-page excerpt from Wolpert, "Principles of Development," (Chapter 5, p.163)
A brief description of how transgenic flies are made and an introduction to the Gal4 ectopic expression system.
Recommended reading:
Wolpert, "Principles of Development," Chapter 5.
A brief, but very clear and up-to-date treatment of pattern formation in Drosophila.
Gilbert, "Developmental Biology," Chapter 9.
A more in-depth treatment than that found in Wolpert; more detail than we'll cover in class, but worth the read.
Slides and lecture notes: will be posted here following class
Web resources:
If the gene names and fly-speak in the paper are getting you confused, the Interactive Fly gives a nice synopsis of what many of these genes do and where they act in development.
http://flybase.bio.indiana.edu/allied-data/lk/interactive-fly/aimain/1aahome.htm
The internet source for all things Drosophila is Flybase: http://flybase.bio.indiana.edu
Ever wonder how fly genes ended up with their often whimsical names? Try Flynome for etymologies of many genes, such as ken and barbie and seven up. http://www.flynome.org/