The Virtual FlyLab

This course has an unusual lab component: we will be doing some genetic "experiments" by computer simulation. Our experiments will use the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster. These exercises are required for this course.

You will first need to go to a general public computer lab (Macintosh or Windows machines) or the Biology Lab in 120 Clapp Hall (Mac and Windows; ID required) and learn to use Internet Explorer or Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox or Safari to navigate the World Wide Web. You should do this very early in the term. If you need help using the Web, see the instructions distributed in class, and/or ask the lab consultant.

You will be using a particular Web site called the Virtual Flylab. Once you have started a web browser (Netscape, Explorer or other), use the menu item File and select Open Location. When a box appears, type in the following:

You will need a username and password to access this site. The University has purchased a license to allow you access. Please see the instructor to get your username and password. Write your username and password in a secure place and do not give your username or password to anyone else.

When you reach the screen entitled "FlyLab Introduction", you can most rapidly access the actual experiments by clicking on the box that says "Start Lab". Note: Be patient while the Java applet loads -- the machine you think is frozen probably isn't!

When the applet window opens, you can set up a cross between two flies, each of which can have any desired combination of mutations by using the "Design" buttons. You can choose only one allele per trait (e.g., only one eye color, etc.). You will see pictures of the mutant flies on the screen. The following nine traits and 29 mutant phenotypes are available for exploration:
Bristles: wild-type, forked, shaven, singed, spineless, stubble
Body color: wild-type, black, ebony, sable, tan, yellow
Antennae: wild-type, aristapedia
Eye color: wild-type, brown, purple, sepia, white
Eye shape: wild-type, bar, eyeless, lobe, star
Wing size: wild-type, apterous, miniature, vestigial
Wing shape: wild-type, curly, curved, dumpy, scalloped
Wing veins: wild-type, crossveinless, incomplete
Wing angle: wild-type, dichaete

You will then get a report on the phenotypes of the offspring (with pictures!) and the numbers counted for each phenotype. Next, you can choose flies from among the progeny for the next mating, see their progeny, etc. This is more or less what you would do in a real genetics lab, except that you don't get to inhale the ether or chase loose flies around the room.

I encourage you to play around with the Virtual Flylab to learn how it works. Later in the term, you will get specific assignments to do "experiments", and to analyze and report your data.