Many Biology majors enter their program with the goal of pursuing a medical degree, giving little to no thought about a possible career in research. By introducing students to the fact that model organisms can be used to understand disease, with the potential of being able to more effectively treat human diseases, it is hoped that more students will consider a career in research instead of (or in addition to) a medical career.
If funded, this 3-week module aims to educate students in the field of translational research by focusing on alcohol-induced behaviors and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome phenotypes using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Importantly, alcohol exposure will occur at different developmental periods during the fly life cycle to emphasize the importance of how environmental exposures during development impact not only larval behaviors but also adult behaviors.