Transcripts From the Head of Drosophila melanogaster

Milligan, Colin D (1995) Transcripts From the Head of Drosophila melanogaster. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Abstract

Drosophila is an ideal organism in which to study the genetics of the nervous system. Reverse Genetics technologies, coupled with powerful traditional techniques make a speculative approach to Drosophila neurogenetics very attractive. This study used differential screening procedures to isolate new genes expressed in the Drosophila nervous system; selecting against those whose expression is specific to the eye. This approach might be successful in identifying new genes which have hitherto been overlooked by traditional approaches. In this study, clones representing four new Drosophila genes were characterised. A gene encoding an esterase has been isolated; corresponding to a previously recognised (but uncloned) biochemical variant in Drosophila. The gene encoding the Drosophila mitochondrial Phosphate Carrier Protein was isolated. Although distributed throughout the body, this gene was previously uncloned and therefore merited further characterisation. Two of the clones isolated in this study represent genes of unknown function. One gene is particularly interesting. Although restricted to the nervous system, its expression in this tissue is very high, making it somewhat surprising that this gene is not already known. A reverse genetic approach, allowing efficient isolation of new retrotransposon induced mutations in selected genes was also developed. Strategies such as this may be used to elucidate the function of the unknown genes and further dissect the in vivo role of the two genes whose fimction is already known.

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Qualification Level: Doctoral
Keywords: Genetics
Date of Award: 1995
Depositing User: Enlighten Team
Unique ID: glathesis:1995-75627
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 19:14
Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 19:14
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/75627

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