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. 2020:2144:47-56.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0592-9_4.

Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster Lifespan

Gary N Landis  1 , Devon Doherty  1 , John Tower  2
Affiliations

Analysis of Drosophila melanogaster Lifespan

Gary N Landis et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2020.

Abstract

The laboratory fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the leading models for the study of aging. Whereas several behavioral and physiological biomarkers of aging have been identified for Drosophila, lifespan remains the most robust measure of aging rate. Aging and lifespan can be modulated by genetic alterations, as well as by drugs and dietary components, to reveal basic and conserved mechanisms of aging. Here methods are presented for Drosophila lifespan assay, including media preparation, supplementation of media with various drugs, culturing of the flies, passaging flies and recording deaths, and the analysis of lifespan data.

Keywords: Aging; Drosophila; Drosophila media; Gompertz; Lifespan; Mortality rate.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Equipment. (a) Steam-jacketed kettle. (b) Pump. (c) 5-headed nozzle. (d) Bubbler.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Estimating drug dilution in media using dyes. (a) Each of red, blue and green commercial food colorings were used, directly (100% dye), or were diluted with water to 50% concentration or 20% concentration. 100μl of each solution was added to the surface of a vial with fly food media, and allowed to absorb overnight. (b) Blue, green and red commercial food colorings were diluted into ethanol at 20% dye concentration, and 50μl of each solution was added to the surface of a vial with fly food media (two vials for each color of dye), and allowed to absorb overnight. (a, b) Measurement of the colored area of the food indicates that the solutions absorb into the top ~1ml of media.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Data recording. (a) Raw data sheet. (b) Excel spreadsheet.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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