A Behavioral Assay for Mechanosensation of MARCM-based Clones in Drosophila melanogasterTimothy P. Murphy 1,2, Dan D. Luu 1, Jessica A. DeSimone 1,3, Thomas C. O'Brien 1,4, Christopher J. Lally 1,5, Jillian J. Lindblad 1,6, Sarah M. Webster 1
1Department of Biology, College of the Holy Cross, 2School of Medicine, Georgetown University, 3Department of Biochemistry, Giesel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 4School of Medicine, Tufts University, 5Transgenomic Inc., 6Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, UMass Medical School
In order to identify novel mutations affecting mechanosensation, we designed an assay that measures the behavioral response to tactile stimulation of fly bristles in mutant clones generated by the MARCM method. The combination of techniques allows for the identification of mechanosensitive mutations that would otherwise be lethal.
