Transcript Mutant vs wildtype - University of California, Irvine

Wildtype versus Mutant
Ms. Alvarez
[email protected]
Arora Lab
University of California Irvine
Developmental and Cell Biology
Department
UC Irvine
Dr. Kavita Arora
Associate Professor
J. Cho
PhD Student
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M. Alvarez
PhD Student
What is the difference between these
individuals?
• Wolverine is a mutant and Ms. Alvarez is wild-type
• Wild-type is the typical form
• Mutants are organisms who’s DNA has been
altered. These organisms display new
characteristics or traits not found in wild-type.
Mutations are permanent changes in
the DNA sequence of a gene
Why do scientist make
mutant organisms?
•
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• To study the
function/ role of the
gene that has been
mutated.
Drosophila Melanogaster, a
popular genetic model organism
• ~ 50% of fly genes
have vertebrate
homologs
• Small and easy to
grow in lab
• Short generation time
• Produce high
amounts of offspring
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Drosophila Melanogaster is used to study
the biological processes underlying:
• Embryonic
development
• Neurodegenerative
disorders
• Diabetes
• Aging
• Drug abuse
• Cancer
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Myostatin Mutants
Project goal: Identify the function of
Myostatin in Drosophila
Myostatin fly mutants die at pupa stage
Acknowledgments
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Dr. Kavita Arora
Jane Cho
Tiffany Leung
Nicole El-Ali
Arora Lab
Warrior Lab
MSP Program
NSF-GK-12 grant DGE-0638751