Using Deletion Mapping to Locate Mutagen-Sensitivity Gene \u3cem\u3emus305\u3c/em\u3e in the \u3cem\u3eDrosophila melanogaster\u3c/em\u3e Genome

All organisms experience DNA damage, and a variety of DNA repair mechanisms exist to combat this damage. The goal of this research was to localize the DNA repair gene mus305 in the Drosophila melanogaster genome. To localize mus305, complementation analysis was conducted using three deficiencies while assaying for mutagen-sensitivity. Specifically, two broods were created by crossing virgin female flies containing a known allele of mus305 to male flies containing one of three deficiencies. Brood 1 offspring were treated with water, which acted as the control, while Brood 2 offspring were treated with MMS. Progeny were scored, and then percent relative survival was calculated as the ratio of mutant to control flies in Brood 2, normalized to the same ratio in Brood 1. These data were used to narrow the potential genomic location of mus305. A candidate gene was identified in this refined region, and current research is focused on sequencing this gene in mus305 mutants