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Thesis Statement

To introduce general concepts of genetics and inheritance to 7th and 8th graders using fruit flies.

Description

We will be developing a multi-week laboratory for 7th, and/or 8th grade students to introduce basic Mendelian genetics using fruit flies. Our lesson plan will involve outlining how to obtain and grow cultures of fruit flies, both red eyed (wild type), and white eyed (mutants), how to cross them, count them, and how to conduct a few anesthetizing techniques. Our project will incorporate how to properly use the scientific method, develop hypotheses, and also how to perform probabilistic math using Punnett squares.

References

1. Zhang, S.D., Odenwald, W.F., 1995. Misexpression of the white (w) gene triggers male-male courtship in Drosophila. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 92: 5525-5529.

2. Demerec, M., Kaufmann, B.P. 1996. Drosophila Guide, tenth ed. Carnegie Institution of Washington, pp. 1-26.

3. Cakir, S., Bozcuk, A.N. 2000. Longevity in some wild type and hybrid strains of Drosophila melanogaster. Turk. J. Biol. 24:321-329.