Mating and memory: an educational primer for use with "epigenetic control of learning and memory in Drosophila by Tip60 HAT action"

• Published in: Genetics (Austin) Vol. 200; no. 1; pp. 21 - 28
• Main Authors: Schmidt, Rebecca L, Sheeley, Sara L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Genetics Society of America 01-05-2015
• Subjects: Animals; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drosophila melanogaster - physiology; Drosophila Proteins - genetics; Epigenetics; Gene expression; Genetics - education; Histone Acetyltransferases - genetics; Insects; Learning; Memory; Primer; Proteins; Reproduction; Tip60; amyloid precursor protein; Drosophila; mushroom body; courtship memory; epigenetic modification; histone acetylation
• ISSN: 1943-2631; 0016-6731; 1943-2631
• DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.176313

An article by Xu et al. in the December 2014 issue of GENETICS can be used to illustrate epigenetic modification of gene expression, reverse genetic manipulation, genetic/epigenetic influence on behavioral studies, and studies using the Drosophila model organism applied to human disease. This Primer provides background information; technical explanations of genetic, biochemical, and behavioral approaches from the study; and an example of an approach for classroom use with discussion questions to aid in student comprehension of the research article.