ModelOrganisms.pptVIP

Model Organisms Jennifer Slade B.Sc (Hon), M.Sc Candidate Outline Model organism Definition Current models Characterisitics of a “good” model organism? Drosophila as a model organism Characteristics Uses in Research Developmental disorders Conserved genes, similar functions Conserved genes, different functions Neurological disorders Triple-repeat diseases Parkinson disease Familial Alzheimer disease Fragile X Cancer RTK-RAS-MAPK signaling Targets of Rapamycin pathway Cell cycle control Tumour metastasis Limitations of fly models Summary Definition of Model Organism Specific species or organism Extensively studied in research laboratories Advance our understanding of Cellular function Development Disease Ability to apply new knowledge to other organisms Current Models Drosophila Xenopus Zebrafish Mouse C. elegans Yeast E. coli Arabidopsis Characteristics of a “Good” Model Organism Think individually Make jot notes 5 to 10 minutes Share in groups Get in groups of 4 Discuss various characteristics Share with the class One person from each group write one characteristic discussed on board Explain why characteristic is beneficial Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism Characteristics of Drosophila that make it a good model organism Small, easy and cheap to maintain and manipulate Short lifespan Produce large numbers of offspring Development is external Availability of mutants Lots of history/previous experiments and discoveries Genome is sequenced Homologues for at least 75 % of human disease genes Exhibit complex behaviours Fewer ethical concerns Drosophila in Research Early research aided in the understanding of development Made first link between chromosome and phenotype Identified various genes and mechanisms of development Current research focuses on the study of human disease Developmental disorders Neurological disorders Cancer Technique: Second site modifier screen Begin with a fly posessing a mutant phenotype Create random mutations that might effec