FlyGenetics

Its powerful genetics makes the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster a major model organism for biological research. Flies are also commonly used in laboratory courses for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the life sciences and medicine. Recognizing fly gender and commonly used genetic markers is critical for carrying out fly genetics, but it is not easy for beginners. This smart phone app is designed to help students learn their way around the fly during their first few days or weeks in the lab. The first version of this app includes four parts: male vs female, virgin vs non-virgin, dominant markers, and balancers vs dominant markers. So whether you are a lab beginner, the mentor of a lab beginner, or simply someone interested in understanding fly genetics but are wondering exactly what the key phenotypes look like, we hope you will find this educational app useful.

This fly app was made possible through funding from Brandeis University's SPROUT program. https://www.brandeis.edu/innovation/grant-programs/index.html