Chapter 18, Problem 12QP

Animal Models: The Search for Behavior Genes

You are a researcher studying an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder. You have cloned the gene underlying the disorder and have found that it encodes an enzyme that is overexpressed in the neurons of individuals who have the disorder. To better understand how this enzyme causes neurodegeneration in humans, you make a strain of transgenic Drosophila whose nerve cells overexpress the enzyme.

1. a.               How might you use these transgenic flies to try to gain insight into the disease or identify drugs that might be useful in the treatment of the disease?
2. b.              Can you think of any potential limitations of this approach?