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Drosophila as a Model for Developmental Toxicology: Using and Extending the Drosophotoxicology Model

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Developmental Toxicology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1965))

Abstract

Fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, have been traditionally valued as a simple model system due to their easy and inexpensive culture, their relatively compact genome, and the variety of available genetic tools. However, due to similarities of their neurological and developmental pathways with those of vertebrates, Drosophila also offers advantages for developmental toxicity assays. The ability to distinguish the effects of a toxicant on adult females, males, and the developing offspring adds to the usefulness of this model. Here we describe key techniques to screen chemicals and other potential emerging toxicants such as nanoparticles on adult Drosophila female and male reproductive success. In addition, assessments of relative toxicity can be revealed by viability assays at each developmental stage from the embryo to the pharate, or preemergent, adult.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Vancouver Island University Research Awards Committee (VIURAC) and an NSERC Canada Discovery Grant.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada

    Joslynn G. Affleck

  2. Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Virginia K. Walker

Authors
  1. Joslynn G. Affleck
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  2. Virginia K. Walker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joslynn G. Affleck .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA

    Jason M. Hansen

  2. Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Louise M. Winn

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Affleck, J.G., Walker, V.K. (2019). Drosophila as a Model for Developmental Toxicology: Using and Extending the Drosophotoxicology Model. In: Hansen, J., Winn, L. (eds) Developmental Toxicology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1965. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9182-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9182-2_10

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9181-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9182-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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