Meeting Abstract
The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is commonly used to understand the genetic mechanisms of behavior. Using this model organism, we are testing whether Drosophila have an innate directional preference based on the Earth’s magnetic field and whether this preference has genetic underpinnings. We have performed 15 generations of artificial selection for directional preference using a sequential Y-maze. In the maze, flies make 10 choices of whether to go north or south, and we then select the 20% most extreme flies for breeding. We have bred both north-seeking and south-seeking populations using this method. Our preliminary results suggest that flies do not have a directional preference; however, because each trial in the maze is performed with a large group of flies that are able to interact, each trial is only a single experimental sample. We have begun performing multiple trials using the original population of flies, the 15th generation of north-selected flies, and the 15th generation of south-selected flies. As a positive control, we are also performing similar experiments with light-seeking and dark-seeking flies. Previous research on phototaxis showed that a separation between light-seeking and dark-seeking populations occurs after 10 generations. Ultimately, this experiment will lead to a better understanding of the potential genetics of magnetic orientation and directional preference in Drosophila.
