I I

PROJECT REPORT
ON
[
DROSOPHILA CULTURE
I

SUBMITTED BY-
Kunal Narayan -
B.Sc .6th Semester ·
,,

Roll No. 2 (),~-Q c, o Q_ o

Regd ..No. GQ ·d)c,~q~Q
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Paper Title:- •Developmental Biology
Paper Code:-_ZC61 _
3P
 l>EJ•All'l'M t)N'I' of ZO O LO GY
Oul injn n Col lege
Duliajan, Ass am- 786602

CERTIFICATE

This is to cert ify that the proj ect entit led "Project
\ on DROSOPHILA
CULTURE " submitted by Kunal Narayan of B.Sc. 6th
semester, Roll No. <21)9 '2..c>o~o
, Department of Zoology, Duliajan College, Assam,
as a part of the
Paper: ZC613P (Developmental Biology) has been
carried out by him
under my guidance.-! wish him all success.

(Dr. Urbbi Devi)

Head 9f the Department

Department of Zoology

Duliajan College, Duliajan

Assam-786602

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express sincere gratitude to several individuals for supporting me
throughout this project. First, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the
HOD of Department of Zoology, Dr. Urbbi Devi, Assistant professors Miss Spriha
Gogoi, and Miss Natasha Gogoi for their enthusiasm, insightful comments, helpful
information and practical advice that have helped me tremendously at all times in
my project. Without their support and guidance, this project ~.9uld not have, been
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possible. I, j ' •
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I would also wish to express my sihcer~ ~flanks to Dibrugarh University for

th
including the project work in B.Sc ·.6 Semester ~yllqbus , which helped me a lot in
learning about the life cycle as well as•. cu1 u,:e of Drosop~ila.
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"
Thanks for all your encouragem ·
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1~unol N0v~(»Jo.n. ·
%1\ No·. <lV1 '2-l?C9~0

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 CONTENTS

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Topic Page No.

..

Aim and Introduction Page 5

Life cycle of Drosoph1'la Page 6

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Materials and Methodology Page 7

Observation Page -12

Conclusion f
Page 13

Reference Page 14
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AIM
The aim of the project is to culture Drosophila and study about
its life cycle.
INTROt>VCTfON
Drosoph1'la melanogaster is a small , near ripe common fly found
near ripe or unripe and r otten fruit. It is a fruit fly insect, and
its life cycle can be divided into four classification, important
stages:- embryo, lar va, pupa and adult.

Classification of Drosoph,la is as follows:-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Di pt era \~ D GPS Map Camera
., ·~f' 1 ~o. Dulia, Assam, India
Family: Drosophilida . ,~ 88W7+335, 1 No. Oulia, Assam 786602, lmf,a
:• •· · Lat 27.345103°
• :.]f 'f /t1-. Long 95.313083°
Genus: Drosoph11a ~og~- ''.: ' 17/03/23 12:01 PM GMT +05:30
,.._ . '"'-
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Species: melanogaster
Physical Appearance: The common fruit flies are usually
tan(yellow-brown) in color and are close to 3mm in length and
2mm in wide. It has a rounded head, large, compound eyes,
three simple small eyes and short antennae. Mouth of
Drosophila is adapted for sopping liquids. The female is slightly
larger than the male. There are black stripes on the dorsal
surface of its abdomen, which can be used to determine the sex
of an individual. Like other flies, Drosophila melanogaster has a
single pair of wings that form from the middle segment of this
thorax.

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LIFE CYCLE OF DROSOPHILA
From the stage of egg fertllltatlon up to tho adult life. tho life cycle of Drosophila lasts for
close to 10 days at a temperature of about 2b..C. ft Is a holometabolous Insect with
significant morphological vorlatlons botween Its larval and adult stoge:s.
The life cycle of Drosophila compr,ses tha f o/lowlng stages of development -

i. EMBRYOGENESIS

The life cycle of Drosophila begins with an egg. The females lay white ond small eggs. on the
delicate surfaces of the decaying matter seen in sinks, drains and dustbins.
This phase is rapid, lasting for 24 hours once f ertillzation of the oocyte has occurred by the
male gametes. A syncytial embryo qulckly develops from the one-celled embryo. The quick DNA
replication. as well as the nuclear divisions, occur In the early embryo syncytium, which
generates close to 5000 nuclei for every embryo.

At the time of gastrulation, cells alter their shape and move. setting up the ectoderm.
endoderm and mesoderm that are the layers of the body structure that will take place in the
future.

ii. LARVAL PHASE

There are three instars of larval stages spanning over 4 days approximately. At this time of
growth, most of the types of cells are differentia ted already and are operating, and a
moulting shift takes place between the various larval stages.

iii. PUPAL PHASE

Once the encapsulation of the third instar larva has taken place, the pupal phase is initiated
and persists for close to 4 days. Several structures of the larva are lysed, leading to the
formation of new structures. These new structures are as a result of the formation of the
imaginal disks, which grow from the undifferentiated cells of the larva.
These disks produce the adult head, wings, legs, thorax and reproductive structures. A few
larval structures, such as the gonads or the nervous system, are conserveci at the time o,f
the pupal phase.

iv. ADULT PHASE

The fly in Its adult stage appears once the pupal case encloses. The female lays a higher
number of eggs, about 100 eggs each day. The average life span of Drosophila is
approximately ranges between 10 to 50 days under optimal humidity and It is subject to
change.

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MATERIALS
• Overripe banana

• One beaker

• Petridish

• Microscope or Magnifying glass

METHODOLOGY
th
An overriped_banana was taken for Drosophila culture on 16 March, 2023
at room temperature (approximately degree celcius) in the laboratory of our
th
department. The observation period for this project was of 12 days, from 16
th
March to 28 March, 2023.
th
1. The overriped banana was pealed off and placed · in an uncapped beaker on 16
March, 2023.
2. After 24 hours, on 17th March, we found Drosophila crawling and flying
around the banana.
3. The beaker was covered with a paper towel and it was secured by rubber
band.
4. Keeping the paper towel secure, we observed the fruit flies everyday (24
hours) for at least ten days using the magnifying glass and microscope.

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OBSERVATION
1. EGGS
th
18 March, 2023, a small
Afte r 24 hours of covering the beaker, on
observed under the microscope.
portion of the banana was taken on a slide and
the following features-
Tiny eggs of Drosophila were found which bears

• The size of the eggs was around 0.5mm.

ressed when viewed laterally.

• The shape was oblong, ovoid and somewhat comp

strong envelope called chorion.

• The eggs were covered outside with a thin but

each flattened into a spoon like

• Two thin stalks whose terminal portions are
float proje ct anteriorly from the envelope.

pore called micropile through which

• At the anterior end of an egg is a minute
the oviduct into the uterus.
the spermatozoa enter the egg as it passes down

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2. LARVA
th
After 48 hours of hatching. on 19 March, again a small portion of the banana·
was taken on a slide and observed under the microscope. Tiny larvae of Drosophlla
could be seen. After hatching from the egg. the larva undergoes two molts. making
the larval period consisting of three lnstar stages I.e.~ 1st lnstar. 2 nd instar and 3rd
instar stages.

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a. tt lnstar larva: The first instar larva was seen' on 20 th

March. The following
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features could be seen from this instar· of the· Oro~ophila- · · , , ' · ·

• The larva was a white transparent segm~nited. won~ shape_p burrower.

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• The mouth hooks were so small that they looked like two two pairs of
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black spots.
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...

nd
b. 2 lnstar larva: The second lnstar larva was seen on 21•t March and showed
the following features-

• The mouth hooks were larger than

before and their structure was cleaner.

• The anterior spiracle was club-like.

• The posterior spiracles were weakly

present in this stage of instar.

c. ~ lnstar larva: The third inst ar larva was seen on 2tld March, showing the
following f eatures-

• The final stage of third instar larva of Drosophila may attain a length of
around 4.5mm.

• The anterior spiracle was branched.

• The posterior spiracles of this instar stage also have a dark orange ring at
their tip.

• The larve crawled out of the food medium into a relatively dry place, ceases
moving and ever t s its anterior breathing spiracles.
3. PUPA
th th
On 7 day (24 March). the slz;e of the larva looked like a rice grain and the
colour also became darker than before. This stage Is Identified as the pupal stage.

The pupa of Drosophila bears the following features-

• The puparium is identical with the cuticle of the last larval lnstar.

• The hardening and the darkening of the cuticle begin and proceed very
quickly.

• After three and a half hours later, the puparlum is fully coloured.

• Pupation takes place about 12 hours after puparium formation.

'It ,'
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• The main function of the pupa is to · p~rmit deyelopment of the the imaginal
disc to adult structures.

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4. ADULT
th th
On the 10 day, On 27 March, tiny flies were formed which Is the adult
stage of the Drosophila It has several morphological features which Includes the
following-

• The adult size was about 1-2mm.

• Wings are present.

• Head rounded with large, red compound eyes, three small simple eyes.

• They are fragile.

• The body can be divided into three parts: head, thorax and abdomen.

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• The Drosophila haltere is a much reduced and specialized hind wing, which
functions as a balance organ.

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CONCLUSION
/cdl research,
Drosophila Is one of the most valuable organisms In blolog
since the fruit fly, Drosophba
particularly In genetics and developmental biology
isms. It has
melanogaster ls one of the most well understood ot all' the model organ
of blologlcal processes viz.,
always been very useful in studying a diverse range
. Genetic analysis grves
inheritance, embryonic development, behavior and aging
the role played by Individual factors (n a biolog
ical prfcess.
essential ihsight ihto
There is no doubt that research usihg Drosophila
will lead to futur e breakthrough in

regenerative medicines.
erature changes with the
Drosophila are ectothermlc insects whose body temp
ambient temperatures. These flies can easily survive between 12-21 degree celcfus.
breeding could be easiJy seen in
Temperature impact on their viability, fertil ity and
dynamics under field conditions.
laboratory stocks and distribution and population
ll, sunlight also plays a vital role in
Even apar t from temperatures, humidity and rainfa
of flies Inhabit a wide range of
distribution of Drosophila species. This species
in tropical areas of the Old World.
habit ats. Their native habitats is that seen
in almost all the temperate
However, the common fruit fly has been observed
regions of the world.
d out to learn the
This proje ct of Drosophila culture was · carrie
olled environment.
different stages of life cycle of Drosophila in, a contr

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REFERENCE

•$• https:/ /www .wikipedia.com

•$• https://www.byjus.com

•$• https://www.sciencedirect.com

•$• https:/ / animaldiversity.org

•$• https:/ /www.britannica.com

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