Present the cross data and your conclusions (< 1 page, 20 marks)
• Describe the cross performed by your group and its results (how many progeny of each type).
• Present the class data from the cross between red-eyed females and white-eyed males
• Present the class data from the cross between red-eyed males and white-eyed females
• If there are any inconsistencies between your data and that of the class as a whole, outline these and provide potential explanations for these differences.
• Describe the mode of inheritance of the white-eye trait (autosomal versus X-linked; dominant versus recessive) and explain how the data from the crosses enabled you to draw this conclusion.
PCR data (< 1 page, 25 marks)
• Present your group’s PCR data: show an image of your gel, clearly indicating which lanes contained your samples (and what they were). Label the molecular weight markers with the size of each fragment (in nucleotides or kilobases).
• Summarise the class PCR data. Discuss inconsistencies (if any) and potential explanations for them.
• Estimate (to the nearest hundred bp) the sizes of PCR products your group obtained from amplification of DNA from homozygous wild type flies, homozygous mutant flies and heterozygous flies.
• Comment on the result obtained from the “no template control” PCR reaction.
Bioinformatics analyses (< 1 page, 25 marks)
• Compare the actual PCR results with those predicted by the bioinformatics analyses you performed using “Primer-BLAST” program. Discuss any differences.
• Summarise the outcomes of your “nucleotide BLAST” analyses of the sequences obtained from wild type and mutant PCR products, and your interpretation of these results.
Conclusions (< 1 page, 25 marks)
• Name the gene(s) mutated in the white-eyed flies used in this mini-project
• Describe the nature of the mutation(s), in words and also by annotating the relevant section of the chromatogram of the mutant sequence data. (If you prefer to do this manually, rather than electronically, you can print the chromatogram and label it in pen to describe the mutation, then scan and include this page in your report).
• Explain how this mutation would result in white-coloured eyes.
