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Monitoring the Effect of Diet and Dietary Supplements on Lipid Accumulation in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae: An Opportunity to Provide a Course‐Based Undergraduate Research Experience
Author(s) -
Daggett Melissa A. F.,
Torres Alejandra Nunez,
McFarlin Shane,
Goodroad Samual L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.lb759
Subject(s) - drosophila melanogaster , larva , drosophila (subgenus) , biology , food science , function (biology) , lipid metabolism , model organism , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , gene
Drosophila is an emerging model organism in which to study the effects of diet on the regulation of metabolism and physiological function. In order to analyze the effect different diets and food additives have on the accumulation of lipids in Drosophila larvae, we have used a carbohydrate rich and optimized high protein diet to expand on an established method to monitor the accumulation of lipids in third in star Drosophila larvae known as the floating larvae assay. We report on the simplicity and utility of using the floating larvae assay to access changes in lipid accumulation in flies raised on different diets and dietary supplements. Procedures for expanding the assay using common molecular, biochemical and cellular techniques in an upper level teaching laboratory, and in offering and delivering a course‐based undergraduate research experience is presented. Support or Funding Information Missouri Western State University PORTAL (Program of Research Teaching and Applied Learning)