Name: Duc Le Drawer/Group #: 15
PS ID #: 1173948 Three digit mutant code: 200
BIOL 3311 Spring 2015 Lab Section: 14707
Date: 02/06/2015 TA Instructor Name: Tess Doumas

Writing Assignment 1: Description of Unknown Mutant Allele Phenotype
The unknown mutant gene present in the mutant Drosophila melanogaster causes a change in the wild type phenotypic trait. When we compare the mutant to the wild type, we observe a difference in eye color. We set up multiple comparisons based on sex and maturity.
The first setup compares newborns of both wild type and mutant. The wild type displays eyes that are brick red with a faint, black pseudopupil located at the center. The mutant’s eyes also appear red but slightly lighter compared to the wild type. The mutant’s eyes do not have pseudopupils. The second setup compares …show more content…
The ca1¬ gene of the claret locus produces products needed for eye color. The mutation of ca1 creates ruby red eye color (Yamamoto et al., 1989). The cm1 gene causes a reduction in Pteridine and Ommochrome pigments. This combination of pigment reduction leads to a darker eye color in the mutant flies (Mullins et al., 1999). The pp gene also reduces levels of both red and brown pigments. With only about 20% red pigments and 15% brown pigments left, the eyes of the mutant appears to be darker (Falcon-Perez et al., 2007). Flies carrying the wsat gene have Drosopterin (red pigments) level of 4% and Xanthommatin (brown pigments) level of 79% compared to wild types level. This causes the eyes to have a reddish-brown color (Mackenzie et al., 1999). A mutation in the pr1 gene will result in purplish-ruby color eyes. This mutation causes a reduction in 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin (PTP) synthase activity which in turn reduces Pteridine pigments level (Kim et al.,