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Completed: Flies! Flies! Flies and How Do They Reproduce and Look!

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"My school is a public school with in a very large school district in which resources are very limited. My school is in a low income area of a very large city. I must purchase most of my supplies at the dollar store in order to complete labs at a high school level. I also have very out going students... " MORE
"My school is a public school with in a very large school district in which resources are very limited. My school is in a low income area of a very large city. I must purchase most of my supplies at the dollar store in order to complete labs at a high school level. I also have very out going students which deserve a chance just like the magnet schools in our district.

My students deserve to do labs just like other high school students in our district do. My supplies are very, very limited along with a lack of real lab class. I make do with what I have but would appreciate help in any form. My students can not believe how I recycle, reuse the littlest items in which some teachers throw out.

This lab would give the students hands on experience along with a better understanding of how genetics and reproduction work. This is a major concept in Biology as well as AP Biology and this would be an exceptional addition to my classroom as well as the program these students are currently in.

I am asking for the 1-Chromatography of Drosophila Eye Pigments Kit and 1 media, 1 vials and culture kit. This hands-on kit will help my students to understand the properties of biochemical pathways, enzymes, and the relationship between genotype and phenotype. My students will gain experience working with one of the most prevalent model organisms, Drosophila melanogaster, while performing paper chromatography on the eye pigments of 5 different mutant strains. Some of the mutant eyes look very similar, but produce vastly different chromatograms, and some of them look very different, but produce very similar chromatograms. This makes it clear to students which eye pigments are missing, or are in excess, in each mutant strain. Enough for two classes to use and parts we can reuse. Along with the chromatography they will include the genetics and reproduction as part of this lab.

Please make this reality come true for my students, whom would love to investigate and solve the mysteries of genetics. They will also be able to use the Chi-Square analysis for this lab which is very important to analyze data. There are no replacement for hands on activity in a science class.

This covers 2 AP labs. I also ordered one whole mount so the student can actually see the chromosomes of the fruit fly.

My students need to engage in hands activity raising of drosophila using the 1-Chromatography of Drosophila Eye Pigments Kit and 1 media, 1 vials and culture kit.

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See Ms. D.'s class participating in this project! (Enlarge photos)

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Ms. D. sent this note after the project was fully funded:

Oct 2, 2008
Dear Clint Ecker, Eric, Janice, Sheryl and Anonymous Donors, 
Thank you, Thank you very much. This project will definitely enhance my class 100 fold. I can use all the materials with 2 classes of highly motivated students. This means so much to me as I am becoming speechless as I type this note. Every day is a struggle to assemble high quality labs for my students. I have a large number of students that want to become doctors and succeed at college.
Thank you, thank you so much.
Live Updates
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Beth A. (staff member) on Jul 20, 2008
Verified the cost of the requested supplies and posted this project.
Beth A. (staff member) on Jul 20, 2008
"I didn't get to work with Drosophila until college, but it solidified my desire to become a geneticist. I hope this project similarly inspires another scientist in the making!"
Sheryl from Middleton, WI gave on Sep 7, 2008
Janice gave on Sep 20, 2008
Donor from *, IL gave on Sep 26, 2008
"We are excited to support Mothers in Medicine blogger challenge - and to support local teachers and students!"
A donor gave in support of Mothers in Medicine Give Back on Oct 1, 2008
Eric from Park Ridge, IL gave in support of Ars Technica 2008 Challenge on Oct 2, 2008
Clint Ecker from Chicago, IL gave in support of Ars Technica 2008 Challenge on Oct 2, 2008
Project fully funded!
Happy news on Oct 2, 2008
The teacher Ms. D. on Oct 6, 2008
Purchased the supplies for Ms. D.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Jenni D. (staff member) on Oct 6, 2008
Packaged the thank-you letters written by Ms. D.'s students and sent them on to the eligible donor(s).
Kalil C. (staff member) on May 1, 2009
PhotosPhotos posted!
The teacher Ms. D. on May 6, 2009
"The Students had a great time mating the Drosophila but not at first. They understood more about genetics as it was taking place in front of their eyes. Thank you all so much for funding this project."
The teacher Ms. D. on Sep 4, 2009
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Funded!
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