How to do scientific experiments using fruit flies
  • 1. What is the scientific name for the common fruit fly used in experiments?
A) Apis mellifera
B) Caenorhabditis elegans
C) Musca domestica
D) Drosophila melanogaster
  • 2. Why are fruit flies a good model organism for scientific research?
A) Short life cycle and easy to breed
B) Large size and ease of handling
C) Complex genome similar to humans
D) Resistance to environmental changes
  • 3. What is the approximate life cycle length of a fruit fly at 25°C?
A) About 30 days
B) About 1 day
C) About 10 days
D) About 60 days
  • 4. Which of the following is NOT a common food source for fruit flies in the lab?
A) Cornmeal-molasses agar
B) Instant potato flakes
C) Yeast
D) Raw meat
  • 5. How can you distinguish between male and female fruit flies?
A) Females are smaller than males
B) Males have sex combs on their front legs
C) Females have darker eyes
D) Males have pointed abdomens
  • 6. What is the purpose of 'etherizing' fruit flies?
A) To accelerate their development
B) To sterilize them for breeding
C) To kill them for preservation
D) To temporarily anesthetize them for observation
  • 7. What type of microscope is typically used to observe fruit flies?
A) Stereomicroscope
B) Compound microscope
C) Atomic force microscope
D) Electron microscope
  • 8. What is the significance of balancer chromosomes in fruit fly genetics?
A) They change the sex of the flies
B) They prevent crossing over in specific regions
C) They promote rapid development
D) They increase mutation rates
  • 9. What does 'P element' refer to in fruit fly genetics?
A) A type of food source
B) A transposable element used for gene manipulation
C) A protein involved in eye development
D) A method of anesthesia
  • 10. What is a 'stock' in the context of fruit fly research?
A) A population of flies with a specific genetic background
B) A measurement of fly size
C) A container for holding flies
D) A type of fruit used for food
  • 11. What is a common method for creating mutant fruit fly lines?
A) Exposing flies to loud noises
B) Selective breeding of large flies
C) Feeding flies different colored food
D) Chemical mutagenesis
  • 12. What is meant by 'crossing' flies?
A) Mating two flies with different genetic backgrounds
B) Counting the number of flies in a population
C) Moving flies between different containers
D) Measuring the length of a fly's wings
  • 13. What is a 'virgin' female fruit fly?
A) A female that has not yet mated
B) A female with a specific mutation
C) A female that is unusually large
D) A female that lays infertile eggs
  • 14. Why is it important to collect virgin females for certain experiments?
A) Because they lay more eggs
B) Because they are easier to handle
C) Because they are more resistant to diseases
D) To control the genetic background of the offspring
  • 15. What is the purpose of a 'vial' in fruit fly experiments?
A) A type of food supplement
B) A device for measuring fly speed
C) A tool for anesthetizing flies
D) A small container to house and breed flies
  • 16. What is the significance of 'eye color' mutants in fruit fly genetics?
A) They are more resistant to pesticides
B) They are easy to identify and track genetic crosses
C) They are more attracted to light
D) They develop faster than wild-type flies
  • 17. What is a 'balancer' chromosome used for?
A) Increasing mutation rates
B) Maintaining heterozygous genotypes
C) Changing the sex ratio
D) Improving fertility
  • 18. What is 'crossing over'?
A) A way to measure fly activity
B) A method of anesthesia
C) A type of fly food
D) Exchange of genetic material during meiosis
  • 19. What is meant by 'F1 generation'?
A) A measurement of fly size
B) A tool for sterilizing flies
C) A type of fly food
D) The first generation of offspring from a cross
  • 20. What is meant by 'F2 generation'?
A) A technique to analyze fly behavior
B) A method to induce sleep in flies
C) A specific type of mutation
D) The second generation of offspring from a cross
  • 21. What does 'wild-type' refer to in fruit fly studies?
A) The normal, non-mutated phenotype
B) A fly that can survive in extreme conditions
C) A fly with many mutations
D) A fly that is resistant to pesticides
  • 22. What is a common application of fruit fly research?
A) Creating new types of fruit
B) Improving bee colony health
C) Studying human diseases
D) Developing new pesticides
  • 23. What is the best temperature range for most fruit fly experiments?
A) 30-35°C
B) 22-25°C
C) 10-15°C
D) 5-10°C
  • 24. What is the recommended humidity for fruit fly cultures?
A) 50-60%
B) 0%
C) 10-20%
D) 80-90%
  • 25. What is 'gene mapping' in fruit fly research?
A) Analyzing fly behavior in different environments
B) Counting the number of genes in a fly genome
C) Modifying fly genes for food production
D) Determining the location of genes on chromosomes
  • 26. What is the purpose of using a 'fly morgue'?
A) To collect dead flies for disposal and analysis
B) To keep flies warm during cold weather
C) To store food for the flies
D) To provide a dark environment for fly sleep
  • 27. What is optogenetics used for in fly research?
A) Controlling neuron activity with light
B) Analyzing the chemical composition of fly food
C) Measuring the size of fly organs
D) Creating different colored flies
  • 28. What is a common method for sterilizing fruit fly vials?
A) Freezing
B) Autoclaving
C) Microwaving
D) Using bleach
  • 29. What is the purpose of adding antifungal agents to fly food?
A) To prevent mold growth
B) To make the food more attractive to the flies
C) To kill any bacteria in the food
D) To provide extra nutrients for the flies
  • 30. What type of anesthetic is most commonly used when anesthetizing flies?
A) Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
B) Propofol
C) Ether
D) Halothane
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