From owner-drosophila@net.bio.net Sat Aug 20 23:00:00 1994 Path: biosci!CHESHIRE.OXY.EDU!momartin From: momartin@CHESHIRE.OXY.EDU (Mark Martin) Newsgroups: bionet.drosophila Subject: fly genetics coursework Date: 21 Aug 1994 14:30:13 -0700 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 48 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net Hello! I am a new adjunct assistant professor at Occidental College in LA (near Caltech). Occidental is a private liberal arts undergraduate institution. This semester, I am teaching a classroom / laboratory course in upper division genetics (class size of about 15!). For the first part of the lab sections, I will be concentrating on molecular microbiology (my speciality). However, I wanted to do some eukaryotic (and multicellular) genetics for the other half of the lab course. I thought that some clear cut standard experiments in Drosophila genetics might be just the ticket. Kathy Matthews in Bloomington suggested that I post to this group for help and advice. Here goes--- 1. Can anyone suggest a nice laboratory manual for fly genetics? 2. I am looking for advice and suggestions for good, clear-cut crosses to demonstrate sex-linkage, dominance, recessiveness, etc. The weirder the mutation, the better; in my experience, a certain degree of showmanship helps to hold the classroom's attention. I am particularly interested in some "off-beat" mutations, like cytoplasmic or conditional lethals. Isn't there a CO2 sensitivity phenotype out there? I think it is due to a bacterial symbiont, but it is still maternally transmitted. 3. What are some good sources for fly lines (I already have the Carolina Biological Supply catalogue). 4. Is a three-point cross too tedious for the students? It would be great if they had something a bit complex to chew on, to demonstrate mapping as well as linkage. I realize that everyone is hyper-busy with their own careers. Still, I would be most appreciative for a nudge or two in the correct direction. -Mark Martin momartin@cheshire.oxy.edu .