Fruit Fly Lab

1. Introduction: a. Observation i. In this lab, we will observe how traits are inherited and whether they are sex-linked or autosomal. b. Question: i. Is the trait following a monohybrid or a dihybrid pattern of inheritance and is it sex-linked or autosomal? c. Hypothesis: i. If a mutation is to occur, then a male is more likely to inherit that mutation than a female. 2. Materials and Method: a. Material: i. Glass Vial ii. Tape (to label generation of fruit flies) iii. Ice or CO2 (for anesthetization) iv. Tray (large enough to completely encompass the vial.) v. Magnifying Glass b. Procedure: i. Make note of the characteristics of the P Generation Fruit Flies. ii. First Day: Place the first set of adult fruit flies (Parental Generation) in a controlled environment. iii. Week 1: Remove adults from vial before new flies ( ) emerge. Use ice/CO as an anaesthetic and make note of the P generation mutations. After that separate the males from the females. Then proceed to incubate Generation eggs. iv. Week 2: Anesthetize and examine the Generation fruit flies. Make note of the mutations. After that, separate the males from the females. Then Proceed to pair adults (male to female) in a fresh vial. v. Week 3: Remove adults before the new eggs break open. Then Incube the eggs. vi. Week 4: Anesthetize and examine the adults and make note of any mutations. Then separate the males from the females.

c. Statistical Methods: i. We anesthetized the fruit flies of each generations and then we closely examined them with a magnifying glass to search for genetic mutations. 3. Results: a. Dependent Variable: i. The inherited phenotype of each generation of fruit flies. b. Independent Variable i. The amount of generations of fruit flies present in each vial at one time. ii. The pairing of female and male fruit flies. c. Confounding Variable: i. The process of anaesthesia. 1. We didnt want any side effects that would occur if we performed different types of anaesthesia on each fly. d. Replication/Sample Size: i. A replication of this experiment would include three generations of fruit fly; , , and . e. Control Variable: i. The environment that these flies will be in. 1. We chose to keep this as a control because we do not want environmental factors to contribute to environmental mutagens. ii. The species of fly that is inside the vial. 1. We chose to keep this a control because we dont want cross-breeding mutations. The resources the flies would be given to help the maintain homeostasis. 1. We didnt want a specific set of flies to grow more, so we feed them the same.

iii.

f. Data: Organized Data

i. Results Observed Phenotypes and Numbers Red Eyes 12 8

Gender Males Females ii. Results Observed Phenotypes and Numbers for:

Observed Phenotypes and Numbers for:

Gender Males Females

Red Eyes 12 21

White Eyes 8 N/A

g. Data Analysis: i. Based on the the chart above, the genetic inheritance of white eyes is sex linked. Meaning, the pattern of inheritance is not the same for males and females, as in, there are no females with white eyes. ii. Based on this data, the genotype of the Parental Generation would w have to be by W . With the father carrying the white eyes. 4. Conclusion a. Our hypothesis was correct, females did not show any signs of the inherited white eye mutations. However, males did, and at a significant amount to suggest that the mutation is sex linked.

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