educational crosses: linkage test in a dihybrid cross

[Eric D Brenner]

Dear Colleagues,

I have been developing a three part C. elegans lab for undergraduates as part of the general biology lab course. The lab is run over three weeks. The first week we set up crosses, the second week we harvest the F1 generation, and the third week we analyze the F2 generation. We have 800 students. My first attempt met with mixed success. The goal was to find linkage in a dihybrid cross between dpy-5 (male) and four different loci of unc (3, 6, 13, 101) (female). Seemed as if there might have been an infertility problem, but it wasn't clear if it was coming form the paternal or maternal side.

My question is, do any of you have a similar lab, and if so, could you give me any tips you might have for achieving the best success (names of mutants, conditions, etc...)?

Thanks in advance,

Eric D. Brenner, PhD.
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
New York University
609 Silver Building
100 Washington Square East
New York, NY 10003
wk: 212-992-8693
fx: 212-995-4015