Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
NAME: SALAZAR, JOVAN DATE:
YEAR & COURSE: BSA-2B SCORE:
LABORATORY GUIDE FOR BREEDING Drosophila melanogaster
INTRODUCTION
Drosophila melanogaster is a small, common fly found near unripe and rotted fruit. It has been
in use for over a century to study genetics and behavior. Thomas Hunt Morgan was the preeminent
biologist studying Drosophila early in the 1900’s. He was the first to discover sex-linkage and genetic
recombination, which placed the small fly in the forefront of genetic research. Due to its small size, ease
of culture and short generation time, geneticists have been using Drosophila ever since.
Drosophila melanogaster is an important genetic model organism used extensively in medical
and biological studies. About 61% of known human genes have a recognizable match with the genetic
code of Drosophila flies, and 50% of fly protein sequences have mammalian analogues. Recently, several
investigations have been conducted in Drosophila to study the functions of specific genes exist in the
central nervous system, heart, liver, and kidney. The outcomes of the research in Drosophila are also used
as a unique tool to study human-related diseases.
Drosophila fly is considered as one of the most effective organisms for analysing the root causes
of human diseases. The Drosophila is used for medical research because of the fact that their internal
organ systems functions similar to those in vertebrates, including humans. Few differences exist between
humans and Drosophila in terms of their cellular features and gross morphological; however, many of
biological, physiological, and neurological properties are conserved between both the organisms. It
should be necessary to mention that about 75% of human disease-related genes are believed to have
functional similarity in the fly. Neurological and developmental disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer,
and metabolic and storage diseases, as well as genes required for the auditory and function of the visual
and immune systems are also matching with the genes of Drosophila.
Classification
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Drosophilidae
Genus: Drosophila (“dew lover”)
Species: melanogaster (“dark gut”)
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
GENDER IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION
Drosophila melanogaster male and female can be differentiated by their size of the body. The size
of the body is associated with genotype and phenotype of the flies that indirectly affects the size of flies
and the gender classification process.
1. Look at the size of the fly. This is the first and most basic step towards distinguishing the gender of
your Drosophila. Female flies tend to be much larger than male flies. If you look at the image above, you
can see that the female is about 25% larger than the male. This method is not always foolproof, so you
have to be willing to look a little deeper into the differences.
2. Look at the color of the abdomen. A fly's abdomen is made up of many different segments. On a male
fly, the last two segments of the abdomen are much darker than the female. The males have thick black
bands, whereas the females tend to have one darker band on the bottom with a lighter band on top of that.
While you're looking at the color of the last two segments of the abdomen, look at the shape of it. The
male's abdomen is rounded at the bottom while the female's abdomen is pointed.
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
LIFE CYCLE OF Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster exhibits complete metamorphism, meaning the life cycle includes an
egg, larval (worm-like) form, pupa and finally emergence (eclosure) as a flying adult. This is the same as
the well-known metamorphosis of butterflies. The larval stage has three instars, or molts.
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
MATERIALS:
Magnifying glass / Microscope
Banana
Glass bottles / plastic bottles (3 pcs each student)
Small brush (can be paint brush)
Toothpick
Cover (gauze / small net / filter paper / cotton pads)
Rubber band
Bond paper, ballpen/pentel pen, tape
Petri Dish
PROCEDURES:
1. Collect fruit fly specimens. Put a banana on the glass bottle and leave it open but covered with net
(smallest) to allow the fruit flies to come in. Once you have collected specimens, secure the cover so they
cannot escape.
2. Anesthetizing the fruit fly specimens by cooling. Put the 1 st bottle with your Drosophila specimens in
the refrigerator. In order to incapacitate the flies, place the culture vial in the freezer until the flies are not
moving, generally 8-12 minutes. Dump the flies onto a chilled surface. This can be constructed by using
the top of a petri dish, adding crushed ice, then placing the bottom of the petri dish on top. Adding flies to
this system will keep them chilled long enough to do each experiment. Simply place the flies back into
the culture vial when finished. Flies will “wake up” relatively quickly once off the ice, so keep them cold.
There are no long-lasting side effects to this method, although flies left in the refrigerator too long may
not recover.
3. Parent generation - identifying gender, wild types (red eyes), and mutant types (all other eye colors
but preferably sepia colored eyes). For the 2nd bottle, identify 5 males and 5 females (all wild types-red
eyes) and put them together. For the 3rd bottle, identify 5 males (wild types) and 5 females (mutant
types). Place banana on each of the bottles to serve as food for the fruit flies.
4. F1 generation. Leave the fruit flies to mate for a day. Check for eggs, larvae, pupa on the following
days for each bottle. If there are confirmed F1 generation on both bottles, let the parent Drosophila go.
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
After 14 days, if the fruit flies are now adults, anesthetize both bottles and count the number of male and
females and identify the different types (wild/mutant type) of each bottle. Record it on table 1.
5. For the F2 generation (continuation of 2nd bottle), identify 5 males and 5 females from the F1
generation and note their phenotype (wild type-red eyes/mutant type). Record it on table 2. Continuation
of 3rd bottle, identify 5 males and 5 females from the F1 generation and note their phenotype (wild type-
red eyes, mutant type). Record it on table 2.
6. Leave the fruit flies to mate for a day. Check for eggs, larvae, pupa on the following days for each
bottle. If there are confirmed F2 generation on both bottles, let the parent Drosophila go. After 14 days, if
the fruit flies are now adults, anesthetize both bottles and count the number of male and females and
identify the different types (wild/mutant type) of each bottle. Record it on table 3.
RESULTS:
Table 1: F1 generation
2ND BOTTLE
GENDER WILD TYPE MUTANT TYPE
MALE 13
FEMALE 15
TABLE 2: CHOSEN F1 GENERATION (MALE)
2ND BOTTLE (Check the characteristic of each of the chosen Drosophila)
NO. WILD TYPE MUTANT TYPE
1 /
2 /
3 /
4 /
5 /
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
6 /
7 /
8 /
9 /
10 /
11 /
12 /
13 /
TABLE 2: CHOSEN F1 GENERATION (FEMALE)
2ND BOTTLE (Check the characteristic of each of the chosen Drosophila)
NO. / MUTANT TYPE
1 /
2 /
3 /
4 /
5 /
6 /
7 /
8 /
9 /
10 /
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
11 /
12 /
13 /
14 /
15 /
CONCLUSION:
The experiment was designed to analyze Mendelian inheritance using Drosophila melanogaster.
Initially, fruit flies were collected with a banana bait inside a glass bottle, using a small net over the
opening to trap the specimens. The flies were then anesthetized by chilling—either in a refrigerator or
with a setup involving crushed ice—to ensure safe handling during the experimental procedures. This
careful preparation and handling of specimens provided a reliable foundation for the subsequent genetic
crosses.
In the parent generation, specific crosses were set up using both wild-type (red-eyed) flies and
mutant variants displaying non-red eye colors, preferably sepia. Two separate groups were established:
one in which wild-type males and females were paired, and another where wild-type males were paired
with mutant females. The emergence of the F1 generation was confirmed by the presence of eggs, larvae,
and pupae. Notably, the F1 progeny from the group with wild-type parents predominantly exhibited the
red-eyed characteristic, with counts of 13 wild-type males and 15 wild-type females. This observation
clearly reinforces the understanding that the red-eyed trait is dominant.
The experiment then advanced into the F2 generation through selective breeding of the F1
individuals. By choosing a specific set of males and females from the F1 generation and recording their
phenotypes, the experiment aimed to capture how the dominant and recessive traits segregate in
subsequent crosses. Although detailed counts for this generation were not fully provided for both
phenotypes, the expected outcome would typically reflect the Mendelian ratio for a trait with complete
dominance, which might approximate a 3:1 distribution under ideal circumstances.
Overall, the results of this study confirm that the red-eyed phenotype in Drosophila follows a
predictable pattern of inheritance that aligns with classical Mendelian laws. The experiment not only
demonstrated that the dominant trait is reliably passed on to the first generation but also set the stage for
further investigation into the segregation of traits in the F2 generation. This methodical approach
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
highlights the value of controlled experimental design and precise observation in exploring genetic
mechanisms, offering insights that extend beyond the simple inheritance of eye color to broader
applications in genetics research.
DOCUMENTATION (step by step documentation):
STEP 1: PREPARING THE CONTAINER
STEP 2: ANESTHEZATION OF FRUIT FLIES
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
STEP 3: GENDER IDENTIFICATION
STEP 4: LEAVING THE FRUIT FLY TO MATE FOR A DAY
Republic of the Philippines
JOSE RIZAL MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
The Premier University in Zamboanga del Norte
TAMPILISAN CAMPUS
ZNAC, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
STEP 5: AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, CHECK FOR LARVAE AND PUPA
STEP 6: IDENTIFY THE F1 GENERATION
