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Goal

Students will participate in a variety of hands-on experiments to evaluate genetic mutations in fruit flies and use classical Mendelian genetic principles to determine heredity of phenotypic (observable) traits. These interactive experiments will allow students to identify particular mutations in fruit flies (i.e. eye color, wing shape and body color) of multiple generations of fruit flies to determine patterns of inheritance of these traits. These experiments offer students the opportunity to see classical principles of genetics in the real world. Students will be able to use their own data to diagram their own punnett squares to show the inheritance patterns of each trait in their selective breeding crosses. These experiments will also allow students to learn to successfully use dissecting microscopes for proper examination, as well as the proper and responsible way to handle and release live specimens for scientific exploration. 

What will be done with my students

Fruit flies have a very short generation time (10-12 days) and contain at least 3 notable genes that present as mutative characteristics (eye color, wing shape and body color), as well as visual differences in male and female flies. In these experiments, we can identify male and female fruit flies with specific traits (the parental generation) and breed them (the F1 generation). We can then note inherited traits in the F1 generation to look for patterns of inheritance. To continue, we can then breed a female and male from the F1 generation and study the subsequent F2 generation for patterns of inheritance. These patterns will follow the traditional pattern of Mendelian genetics and allow students to actively gather their own data to document observable traits and diagram these traits for each generation in a classical punnett square. 

Benefits to my students

Students will use this hands-on approach to understand phenotypes and genotypes in genetic analysis. They will understand the life cycle of the fruit fly and its significance in selective (artificial) breeding. Students will obtain a deep understanding of the patterns of inheritance in Mendelian genetics. Because this will be a partnered lab exercise, each student will have the opportunity to participate in these hands-on experiments. The dissecting scopes can also be used in our 6th and 7th grade sciences using experimental pea plants and observing traits to pre-load concepts on classical Mendelian genetics. All 8th grade science students will benefit from these interactive experiments (approximately 108 students). 

Budget Narrative

This classroom grant requests the purchase of 11 AmScope SE306R-PZ Forward Binocular Stereo Microscopes (Dissecting Microscopes) in order to observe and catalogue physical traits of fruit flies for parental and successive generations in order to observe and participate in learning classical Mendelian genetics.  

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