Bi5614en Genetics in animal model organisms

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/0/0. 1 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Liam Keegan, PhD. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Liam Keegan, PhD.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Liam Keegan, PhD.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Fri 13:00–13:50 B11/333
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
Learn genetics with model organisms
Learning outcomes
Learn genetics with model organisms
Key topics
1. History: After Mendel rediscovery; beginnings of Drosophila and rodent genetics. Life cycles, breeding and genetic methods for Drosophila and mice. 2. Drosophila Balancer chromosomes; Bar eye, Curly wings and Stubble bristle dominant balancer markers and other markers. Genetic screens in flies, mice and zebrafish 3. Drosophila embryonic development and metamorphosis; The Wieschaus, Nusslein-Vollhard genetic screen for larval segmentation and patterning mutants 4. Other important genetic screens for Drosophila developmental mutants; screens in Daniel St Johnston review. 5. Selected topics in fly and mouse genetics; Homeotic genes, planar cell polarity and organ specification in flies, mice and zebrafish 6. Growth control, cancer and cell death in flies, mice and fish 7. Innate immunity in flies, mice and fish. Ageing. 8. Genetic control of nervous system development in Drosophila, specification of neuronal cell types, motorneuron specification and coordination in flies, mice and fish 9. Genetic control of development in sensory systems, vision, olfaction in flies, mice and fish 10. Genetic investigations of learning, memory, forgetting in flies, mice and fish 11. Genetic investigations of specific behaviours; circadian rhythms, sleep, mating etc. in flies, mice and fish 12. Other model systems, with invited lecturers; C. elegans, Killifish, other rodents maybe 13. Other model systems, with invited lecturers; C. elegans maybe, Killifish, other rodents 14. Other model systems, with invited lecturers; C. elegans maybe, Killifish, other rodents
Study resources and literature
    recommended literature
  • HALES, Karen G.; Christopher A. KOREY; Amanda M. LARRACUENTE and David M. ROBERTS. Genetics on the Fly: A Primer on the <i>Drosophila</i> Model System. GENETICS. BETHESDA: GENETICS SOCIETY AMERICA, 2015, vol. 201, No 3, p. 815-842. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.115.183392. info
    not specified
  • DAVIS, Ronald L. Learning and memory using Drosophila melanogaster: a focus on advances made in the fifth decade of research. GENETICS. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2023, vol. 224, No 4, p. 1-22. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyad085. info
  • TRUMAN, James W. and Lynn M. RIDDIFORD. <i>Drosophila</i> postembryonic nervous system development: a model for the endocrine control of development. GENETICS. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2023, vol. 223, No 3, p. 1-31. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyac184. info
  • CURRIER, Timothy A.; Michelle M. PANG and Thomas R. CLANDININ. Visual processing in the fly, from photoreceptors to behavior. GENETICS. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2023, vol. 224, No 2, p. 1-28. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyad064. info
  • KIMBLE, Judith and Christiane NUESSLEIN-VOLHARD. The great small organisms of developmental genetics:<i> Caenorhabditis</i><i> elegans</i> and <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY. SAN DIEGO: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE, 2022, vol. 485, p. 93-122. ISSN 0012-1606. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.02.013. info
  • MONTELL, Craig. <i>Drosophila</i> sensory receptors-a set of molecular Swiss Army Knives. GENETICS. CARY: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2021, vol. 217, No 1, p. 1-34. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyaa011. info
  • MODI, Mehrab N.; Yichun SHUAI and Glenn C. TURNER. The <i>Drosophila</i> Mushroom Body: From Architecture to Algorithm in a Learning Circuit. ANNUAL REVIEW OF NEUROSCIENCE, VOL 43. PALO ALTO: ANNUAL REVIEWS, 2020, vol. 43, p. 465-484. ISSN 0147-006X. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-080317-0621333. info
  • CREWS, Stephen T. <i>Drosophila</i> Embryonic CNS Development: Neurogenesis, Gliogenesis, Cell Fate, and Differentiation. GENETICS. BETHESDA: GENETICS SOCIETY AMERICA, 2019, vol. 213, No 4, p. 1111-1144. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.119.300974. info
  • MILLER, Danny E.; Kevin R. COOK and R. Scott HAWLEY. The joy of balancers. PLOS GENETICS. SAN FRANCISCO: PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2019, vol. 15, No 11, p. 1-8. ISSN 1553-7404. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1008421. info
  • DUBOWY, Christine and Amita SEHGAL. Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>. GENETICS. BETHESDA: GENETICS SOCIETY AMERICA, 2017, vol. 205, No 4, p. 1373-1397. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.115.185157. info
  • DOE, Chris Q. Temporal Patterning in the <i>Drosophila</i> CNS. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, VOL 33. PALO ALTO: ANNUAL REVIEWS, 2017, vol. 33, p. 219-240. ISSN 1081-0706. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-cellbio-111315-125210. info
  • HOLTZMAN, Nathalia G.; M. Kathryn IOVINE; Jennifer O. LIANG and Jacqueline MORRIS. Learning to Fish with Genetics: A Primer on the Vertebrate Model <i>Danio rerio</i>. GENETICS. BETHESDA: GENETICS SOCIETY AMERICA, 2016, vol. 203, No 3, p. 1069-1091. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.116.190843. info
  • WIESCHAUS, Eric and Christiane NUESSLEIN-VOLHARD. The Heidelberg Screen for Pattern Mutants of <i>Drosophila</i>: A Personal Account. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, VOL 32. PALO ALTO: ANNUAL REVIEWS, 2016, vol. 32, p. 1-46. ISSN 1081-0706. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-cellbio-113015-023138. info
  • CORSI, Ann K.; Bruce WIGHTMAN and Martin CHALFIE. A Transparent Window into Biology: A Primer on <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. GENETICS. BETHESDA: GENETICS SOCIETY AMERICA, 2015, vol. 200, No 2, p. 387-407. ISSN 0016-6731. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.115.176099. info
  • DUFFY, JB. GAL4 system in <i>Drosophila</i>: A fly geneticist's Swiss army knife. GENESIS. HOBOKEN: WILEY, 2002, vol. 34, 1-2, p. 1-15. ISSN 1526-954X. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/gene.10150. info
  • JORGENSEN, EM and SE MANGO. The art and design of genetic screens: <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS. BERLIN: NATURE PORTFOLIO, 2002, vol. 3, No 5, p. 356-369. ISSN 1471-0056. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg794. info
  • ST JOHNSTON, D. The art and design of genetic screens: <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>. NATURE REVIEWS GENETICS. BERLIN: NATURE PORTFOLIO, 2002, vol. 3, No 3, p. 176-188. ISSN 1471-0056. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg751. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lectures with some assigned reading
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Continuous assessment/student engagement
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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