GENE DISRUPTIONS USING P-TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS - AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THE DROSOPHILA GENOME PROJECT

Biologists require genetic as well as molecular tools to decipher geno mic information and ultimately to understand gene function, The Berkel ey Drosophila Genome Project is addressing these needs with a massive gene disruption project that uses individual, genetically engineered P transposable elements to target open reading frames throughout the Dr osophila genome. DNA flanking the insertions is sequenced, thereby pla cing an extensive series of genetic markers on the physical genomic ma p and associating insertions with specific open reading frames and gen es, Insertions from the collection now lie within or near most Drosoph ila genes, greatly reducing the time required to identify new mutation s and analyze gene functions. Information revealed from these studies about P element site specificity is being used to target the remaining open reading frames.