Using RNA-interference to Identify the Genetic Toolkit for a Fruit Fly Morphological Trait

Using RNA-interference to Identify the Genetic Toolkit for a Fruit Fly Morphological Trait

Presenter(s)

Abbey Marie Groszkiewicz, Jesse Taylor Hughes

Description

Metazoan animal morphological traits result from the combined inputs of hundreds or more genes that comprise gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Each GRN utilizes various genes from the genetic toolkit of transcription factor and signaling pathway genes to control complex patterns of gene expression. However, for few traits, if any, has the full repertoire of toolkit genes been characterized for its GRN. Thus, how traits are built by regulated gene expression remains poorly understood. For my thesis, I am investigating the genetic toolkit that makes a male-specific pigmentation for the fruit fly species Drosophila melanogaster. Using RNA-interference, I will reduce the expression of ~190 transcription factor and ~21 signaling pathway genes to find those necessary for this trait by surveying for deviant pigmentation phenotypes. The results will provide a greater understanding of how a GRN is able to direct the formation of a well formed trait.

Publication Date

4-18-2018

Project Designation

Honors Thesis

Primary Advisor

Tom M. Williams

Primary Advisor's Department

Biology

Keywords

Stander Symposium project

Using RNA-interference to Identify the Genetic Toolkit for a Fruit Fly Morphological Trait

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