City of Hope’s Drosophila facility provides organized resources for investigators working with Drosophila (fruit flies). It is comprised of a main lab, which houses the stock collection, and three stations for stereoscopic viewing and manipulation of flies. A separate space for mass collection of single genotypes is also available.
The success of Drosophila melanogaster as an experimental organism derives from an amalgam of molecular and classical genetic tools and perspectives. This facility addresses the classical genetic component. In general, this means that the genetics of Drosophila flies are manipulated to serve the needs of researchers whose main tools are molecular genetics, biochemistry, electrophysiology and ultrastructural morphology.
Quality Control
It is important to note that stock are maintained as live subcultures whose genomes are subject to various types of dynamic change. In some cases, genetic instability may be the very property that one wants to maintain in a stock.
- The collection is monitored by periodic survey and frequent experimental use of the stocks.
- Computer-printed labels are affixed to incoming stock to ensure that complete and accurate information accompanies each subculture.
- Most stocks on campus are backed up by secondary copies in our main lab.
- All incoming stocks are quarantined to decrease the chances of mite infestation.
- Any experimental inconsistencies are immediately pointed out to investigators, and methods for addressing these inconsistencies are discussed between investigators and staff.
Last updated: 06/30/2008