Undergraduate Students

1st Place: Sofia Karter Lopez, University of Toronto

“Rab11 mediates E-cadherin recycling during embryonic wound healing.”

2nd Place: Elizabeth Graham, Georgetown University

“The impact of cell cycle and sex on DNA double-strand break repair pathway choice.”

3rd Place: Leila Lin, University of California, Irvine

“Fast evolving genes involved in heterochromatin function.” 

Graduate Students

1st Place: Audrey Williams, University of Chicago

“Fat2 polarizes Lar and Sema5c to coordinate the motility of collectively migrating epithelial cells.”

2nd Place: Brook Falk, The Hospital for Sick Children

“Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-5 is required for spermiogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.”  

3rd Place: Matthew Lindsay, University of Rochester

“Investigating the maintenance of the Responder satellite in Drosophila melanogaster.”

Highlights:

• GSA is committed to having a positive impact in the communities where we hold conferences.
• LOCI is a way for each GSA conference to engage with a volunteer-led community service event
• We are kicking off this initiative at #Dros23 by working with the Broadway Youth Center, an integrated health and social services organization that serves the Chicago LGBTQ+ community

Local Outreach Community Initiatives (LOCI):

The Genetics Society of America is committed to supporting the communities of the host cities of our conferences. This new year, we are excited to reconnect with our GSA community in meaningful ways within and beyond our existing programming. The GSA membership has created a caring and supportive environment and we hope to expand this environment to those where we hold our conferences. One of GSA’s pillars is to “Support the genetics community in engaging and communicating with the public.” Beyond communicating our science to the public, we as a society can work directly with fellow non-profits that share our values, through Local Outreach Community Initiatives (LOCI) during our conferences.

Attending a conference can be a relatively insular experience. Outside of visiting restaurants and maybe a sight or two, much of our time is often restricted to the conference center. The GSA Conferences Committee and staff, pioneered by former ECLP members Molly Matty and Gavin Rice, wish to create a way for attendees to engage and connect with the local community of the host city in a way that supports their growth. Instead of trying to initiate our own programs, which may miss the mark in serving the local community, we have chosen to work directly with local organizations, asking them what would be most helpful. For #Dros23 we are working with the Broadway Youth Center, a part of Howard Brown Health, one of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) health and social service organizations. The first GSA LOCI event will include putting together hygiene kits, a professional clothing drive, and direct monetary donations to Broadway Youth Center (see details below).

We hope to expand these initiatives and projects to more conferences in the future, working with local organizations that are well-versed with the social and developmental needs of the host location. This shall  allow conference attendees to connect beyond our shared science, while leaving a positive impact on our host city. These events can be anything from helping clean up a beach or park to tutoring students from disenfranchised backgrounds. 

#Dros23 LOCI

We are grateful to the Broadway Youth Center for their assistance in planning the #Dros23 LOCI. Here’s what we have planned for #Dros23 in Chicago:

1. Hygiene Kit packing event: In-person conference attendees can help assemble hygiene kits. All of the supplies will be provided. Join with other attendees and connect right at the start of the meeting.
2. Professional clothing drive: If you or your labmates have professional clothes that are unused, or used but clean, bring them to #Dros23 to be donated to the Broadway Youth Center. 
3. Monetary donation: We recognize that people may not be able to participate in person but would still like to be part of this initiative. We have set up a donation page where you can select GSA LOCI from the dropdown list in the Donation Fund section. Please note that 100% of the donations are going to the Broadway Youth Center. 

How you can participate:

• Sign up for #Dros23 LOCI when you register.
• If you are attending #Dros23 in person, please spread the word locally in your department about the professional clothing drive if you have extra room in your luggage. 
• Let others know they can donate to Broadway Youth Center at the GSA website.

For more information, please visit GSA LOCI.

The Annual Drosophila Research Conference started in 1958 in Madison, Wisconsin as a free-form meeting where “people spoke as the spirit moved them.” Now in its 64th year, the meeting has evolved from what one of the founders, Larry Sandler, called “genetic analysis for fun and recreation,” into the premier worldwide meeting of Drosophilists. Over the decades, the meeting has held on to the legacy of its founders and embraced developments in research, science, culture, and more recently, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, public health.

With the past few years being so disruptive, and our individual and collective experiences of the pandemic giving us new insight into ourselves, our communities, and our aspirations, the meeting organizers thought it important to ask how we will apply this new knowledge to build the future of scientific conferences. This question also informed the decision to introduce the theme “Pay It Forward” at #Dros23. The theme, which will be woven throughout the meeting, reflects an awareness of the history and culture of Dros meetings and attempts to envisage these values in today’s context. 

As such, the spirit of “Pay It Forward” will be highlighted in a unique and interactive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion session led by Raquell Holmes, Founder and Director of improvscience, and Tânia Reis, Associate Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. In this session, attendees will experience a new way of getting to know one another, building a community where we can share aspirations and work together to achieve them. 

Keynote Speaker:

Yukiko Yamashita, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, HHMI

Plenary Speakers:

Amanda Amodeo, Dartmouth College

Allison Bardin, Curie Institute, France 

Edan Foley, University of Alberta

Sally Horne-Badovinac, University of Chicago

Karla Kaun, Brown University

Erin Kelleher, University of Houston

Mustafa Mir, University of Pennsylvania

Caroline Palavicino-Maggio, Harvard Medical School

Kausik Si, Stowers Institute for Medical Research

Lesley Weaver, Indiana University Bloomington

To read the invited speakers’ bios visit the website. 

#Dros23 Program:

The conference has been designed in a way that offers something for everyone.

#Dros23 will have opportunities for attendees to present platform talks and posters either in person or remotely. The abstract driven sessions will cover cell stress and cell death, immunity, evolution, reproduction, cell biology, cell division and cell growth, physiology, metabolism and aging, initiatives in education and DEI, among others.  

Professional development events will provide resources to those seeking careers in academia, industry, and science writing, among others. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in networking hotspots and network in the language of their choice through GSA’s Multilingual Networking event. Attendee led workshops will feature topics such as techniques, emerging or specialized areas of research, community resources, education, as well as other topics of interest to the Fly community. 

For the complete schedule, and list of professional development events visit the website. 

Explore Chicago

The Conference venue is the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. Located between the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, the hotel is an urban sanctuary in a downtown setting with plenty of activities to do nearby. Chicago’s two airports and central location also make it an accessible location for US and international attendees. Book your travel and hotel reservations on the website.

Abstract submission for oral presentations closes on November 17. Poster-only submissions will be accepted, as space is available, through January 4, 2023. 

We look forward to seeing you all in Chicago for #Dros23!

GSA is excited to welcome Balint Kacsoh, PhD, as the Society’s Engagement Professional Development Program Coordinator! Read on to learn more about Balint, a past DeLill Nasser Award recipient, 2020 Larry Sandler Awardee, and former Early Career Leadership Program member.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what your career has looked like up to this point? How did you come to join the GSA staff?

My name is Balint Zoltan Kacsoh. I was raised in the beautiful capital of Hungary, Budapest, and in Macon, GA. From a young age, I was fascinated by biology—whether it be going to the aquarium and the zoo, to biology class—I wanted to understand how organisms function. My father, also Balint Kacsoh, brought me to his research lab at Mercer University School of Medicine, where I was able to keep my own cell cultures and “help” run experiments as young as age eight. Throughout lower, middle, and high school, my favorite subject was science. I even sought more rare classes to take, such as Genetics and Advanced Topics in Science. 

I received my BS/MS from Emory University under the guidance of Dr. Todd Schlenke and Dr. Nathan T. Mortimer and received my PhD in the lab of Dr. Giovanni Bosco at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College. I performed postdoctoral research in the lab of Dr. Shelley Berger at the University of Pennsylvania, funded by a Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fellowship, where my research focused on epigenetics of social structure. Throughout my time in research, I gained an appreciation for the immense importance of Science Communication and Science outreach, forming SciAnts with my wife to facilitate this goal.

I have been a member of the Genetics Society of America since I was an undergraduate. I have been afforded many opportunities, such as conference travel funding through the DeLill Nasser Award and participating in the Early Career Leadership Program (ECLP), that have shaped me as a scientist. These programs and opportunities were immensely important to me. Thus, when the opportunity to join the GSA staff presented itself, I immediately applied. I hope to make as big of a difference to the GSA as they have to me.

Can you describe your new position at GSA as the Engagement Professional Development Program Coordinator?

As a member of the engagement team, my job will entail working with members of the ECLP, organizing conference workshops and events, and implementing new ideas to benefit members and other constituents of the Society.

What upcoming projects are you most looking forward to working on in your new role?

I am excited for many different projects—first, I am looking forward to helping further grow the ECLP. The ECLP is a critical component in the lives of many young scientists, and I hope to further the community. I am also looking forward to designing conference mascots as part of our science outreach endeavor to engage a broad community. Finally, I am very excited about helming new programs to engage our community utilizing streaming platforms.  

What about the GSA community do you find most inspiring?

I am most inspired by the support system in place in the GSA community. Simply asking for help—whether it be on Slack, email, or in person—creates opportunities for growth and support. I owe my scientific career to the GSA, and I cannot wait to give back.

What’s one piece of advice that you think every early career scientist should hear?

As a scientist, you are in a position of extreme privilege; therefore, I believe it is your moral obligation to willingly and freely disseminate information in which you are an expert. Only with this mentality, can we promote science literacy and science trust in the broader community. 

What do you think would surprise your undergraduate self about your career path so far?

My undergraduate self would be surprised at my strong love of science outreach—not in that I love doing it, but in the strong need for it. I have experienced much more now compared to then, and have seen firsthand the need to support members outside of the scientific community.

Do you have any mentors? How have they played a role in your career journey?

I have had many mentors throughout my journey. This ranges from my father, who is a professor in a medical school, to my academic mentors. As an undergraduate, a postdoctoral researcher, Nathan T. Mortimer, took me under his wing. Under his mentorship, I began to think like a scientist, solving and making puzzles in biology. Because of his mentorship, I embarked on a journey of research. His continued mentorship across over a decade has helped me identify regions to improve in and what matters most to me. 

What professional accomplishment to date are you most proud of?

I am most proud of receiving the Larry Sandler Award, presented by the Genetics Society of America at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference for the best Drosophila PhD thesis. Having the community I support and love recognize my thesis has meant the most to me. It represents a long and hard journey through graduate school, and I am extremely proud of this accomplishment.

What’s your idea of a perfect weekend?

My perfect weekend is sitting outside in our yard with my wife on a cool afternoon while grilling some of our favorite foods. Having a soccer game on the tablet—on low volume, of course—would be a bonus. 

The Victoria Finnerty Travel Award supports conference-attendance costs for undergraduate GSA members who are presenting research at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference. #Dros22 will be held in San Diego, CA and online from April 6–10, 2022.

Victoria Finnerty, who died in February 2011, was a long-time member of the Genetics Society of America and served the Drosophila community and the genetics community at large in many capacities. A wonderful geneticist, Vickie’s ground-breaking work as a graduate student used high-resolution recombination analysis to dissect gene structure. This set the stage for a 35-year career in which she excelled as a gifted teacher as well as research scientist. Vickie was also a wise and compassionate mentor and teacher for whom interactions with her students was a constant joy. She constantly sought new ways to engage undergraduates in their genetics courses and in research; this travel fellowship fund continues Vickie’s stellar example.

Saron Akalu, University of California, Berkeley

We characterize the timing and evolution of an apoptosis-inducing toxin gene’s horizontal transfer into an agriculturally destructive fruit fly lineage.

Paulo Belato, University of Connecticut

I investigate the changes of gene expression in a Drosophila melanogaster model system that carries B chromosomes.

Megan Butler, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

I study how an essential protein involved in human cancers might be recruited to its target locations via epigenetic (outside the DNA) changes.

Collin Louis, Grand Valley State University   

My research is investigating whether expression of the Hdc (histidine decarboxylase) gene in specific regions can be regulated though the process of transcription initiation.

Gonzalo Nahim Morales Chaya, University of New Mexico        

We explore the intrinsic mechanisms that regulate neuroblast identity through brain development.

Sherif Negm, University of Rochester 

I study the evolutionary dynamics of complex satellite DNA.

Alani Perkin, Harris-Stowe State University

My research project in the Leal lab at Harris-Stowe State University is focused on understanding the mechanisms of pattern formation involved in the development of adult organs using the Drosophila imaginal eye disc as a simple model system.

Manisha Persaud, Rutgers University

My research investigates the features of the Drosophila oocyte-spindle that make it susceptible to segregation errors, specifically through the study of the Borealin protein in The Chromosome Passenger Complex.

Christopher Petit, Loyola University Chicago          

I study the role of the protein CG4511 in the development of sperm (spermatogenesis) within the Drosophila melanogaster testis.

Heidi J. J. Pipkin, Bemidji State University    

I study innovative high-resolution imaging method that creates standardized conditions facilitating the collection of reproducible, spatial, quantitative data from the eyes of D. melanogaster.

Caroline Pitton, Wesleyan University 

My project uses RNA-Sequencing data to identify D. melanogaster genes that are significantly differentially expressed in response to the GeneSwitch GAL4 system.

Caroline Pritchard, Lehigh University

I study functions of ribosomal proteins (components of the protein-making machinery found in all cells) and how the loss of specific ribosomal proteins perturbs normal developmental processes in the fruit fly.

Shanzeh Sayied, Brown University     

I am researching ALKBH8, a gene associated with intellectual disability, and how it affects learning and memory in Drosophila.

Joanatta Shapiro, Rutgers University 

I am investigating the role of the ROD-ZW10-Zwilch complex in promoting accurate chromosome segregation during female Drosophila meiosis.

Sequioa Smith, Sam Houston State University         

I discover and characterize new genes required for the fruit fly’s retinal development.

Four GSA communities are excited to meet in person in 2022 — and to experiment with hybrid conferences that combine the benefits of online and in-person meetings.

After two years of online meetings of all kinds, we are thrilled to return to scientific conversations in person! In 2022, many of us will be together again, enjoying the science—and the company—at our regular in-person conferences with virtual attendance options. #Fungal22 and #PEQG22 will take place at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California and #Dros22 will be in San Diego, California. #Yeast22 will be held in person at a location to be announced soon. All four organizing committees are working hard on creating can’t-miss programs to reunite and recharge their communities.

A few of the things we have missed most about scientific conferences “in real life” include meeting new colleagues at random, building stronger relationships with old colleagues, having unscheduled but in-depth conversations, discovering amazing talks far outside our specialties, and being able to dedicate focused time to the meeting away from everyday life. The intellectual buzz of several intense days of science at a GSA meeting is an enriching experience that has immediate results: new ideas, new collaborations, new jobs, new friends. 

Of course, we learned a lot from our experiments with online conferences in 2020 and 2021. For example, having the talks recorded ended the ubiquitous fear of missing out on something exciting in a concurrent session. And more people were able to ask questions via chat than was ever possible via a microphone. Most importantly, we learned that the virtual format could be more inclusive, lowering barriers to participation.

So, in 2022, GSA is leading the way in conference innovation  once again, this time with offering virtual attendance options alongside the full in-person conference, including opportunities to present online and access talk recordings, posters, and professional development events. While there is no way for us to completely replicate the in-person experience online, we hope that these select virtual options will translate to new “hybrid vigor” for GSA conferences by opening the experience to remote participants and enhancing the experience for those on site.

This flexibility seems even more critical while we continue to endure the uncertainty and risks of a pandemic. Because we understand that making future travel plans is difficult right now, we are adopting a flexible registration policy that will allow registrants to change from the in-person to virtual options (or vice versa) up until the month before the meeting.

As scientists, we all know that experiments come with costs. In this case, the new format has much higher labor, contractor, equipment, and technology costs than either an in-person or an online-only event. Note that the 2022 conferences are not expected to break even.

The past 18 months of conference experiments have been financially costly for the GSA, but also rewarding. Crucially, we have invested in these trials in order to maintain community connections and scientific contributions in a time of need. Despite the anticipated losses, we consider the virtual attendance option in 2022 to be an important step in learning how to balance the needs of in-person and online participants. We are excited to see what happens and to continue to evolve how scientists meet and exchange ideas.

2021 GSA Executive Committee

Hugo Bellen, President

E. Jane Hubbard, Vice-President

Denise J. Montell, Immediate Past President

Erika L. Matunis, Secretary

Michael Buszczak, Treasurer

Steven Munger, Member at Large

Tracey DePellegrin, GSA Executive Director

We are pleased to announce the GSA Poster Award winners from the 62nd Annual Drosophila Research Conference! Undergraduate and graduate student members of the GSA were eligible for the awards, and a hard-working team of postdocs volunteered their time as judges. Congratulations to all!

Undergraduate Students

1st Place: Umayr R. Shaikh

Institution: Butler University

Poster Title: “Exploring size scaling relationships in the developing Drosophila egg chamber”

2nd Place: Sarah Sims

Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Poster Title: “Consequences of the Loss of Multiple HP1 Proteins in Drosophila melanogaster“

3rd Place: Abigail Wukitch

Institution: Bucknell University

Poster Title: “The limits of chronic infection induced protection during secondary infection in Drosophila melanogaster“

Graduate Students

1st Place: Mehrnaz Afkhami مهرناز افخمی

Institution: University of Oklahoma

Poster Title: “The genetic and neuronal bases of a coevolved reproductive trait in female Drosophila“

2nd Place: Alexander J. Barron

Institution: Johns Hopkins University

Poster Title: “Drosophila gut bacteria regulate the growth of invasive microbes both in culture and in the host gut environment”

3rd Place: Jullien Flynn

Institution: Cornell University

Poster Title: “Multiple sex chromosome-autosome fusions associated with high satellite DNA content in Drosophila virilis“

“Why are chromosomes so different? Genetic conflicts and genome evolution”

Congratulations also to this year’s Larry Sandler Award runners up:

• Kristina Stapornwongkul (Advisor: Jean-Paul Vincent)
• J. Dylan Shropshire (Advisor: Seth Bordenstein)
• Jiefu Li (Advisor: Liqun Luo)

About the awardees:

Ching-Ho Chang was born in Taiwan. He went to the National Taiwan University and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Science. He received his Master’s degree from the Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary biology at the National Taiwan University in 2011 under the mentorship of Dr. Chau-Ti Ting, studying the evolution of neo-sex chromosomes in Drosophila albomicans using genetics and computational biology. He continued his interest in chromosome evolution during his Ph.D. work by combining genetics, computational biology, and cytology to study the evolution of Drosophila centromeres, Y chromosomes, and meiotic drive under the guidance of Dr. Amanda Larracuente at the University of Rochester. As a graduate student, he held the Ernst Caspari and Messersmith Fellowships from the University of Rochester and a Government Scholarship to Study Abroad from the Ministry of Education, Taiwan. He earned his doctoral degree in Biology from the University of Rochester in 2020. Dr. Chang is currently a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Harmit Malik at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, studying the function and evolution of sperm chromatin using Drosophila. 

Kristina Stapornwongkul did her Masters at the University of Heidelberg and then moved to London to do a Wellcome Trust-funded PhD in Jean-Paul Vincent’s lab at the Crick Institute. Since February, she is a postdoctoral fellow at EMBL Barcelona.

Dylan Shropshire received his PhD from the Bordenstein lab at Vanderbilt University and is currently an NSF postdoctoral research fellow in Brandon Cooper’s lab at the University of Montana.

Jiefu Li did his Ph.D. thesis research with Prof. Liqun Luo at Stanford University. He developed proteomic and genetic tools to study cell-surface signaling in the precise assembly of Drosophila olfactory circuits.

Get a sneak peek of the Annual Drosophila Research Conference Plenary Sessions.

The 62nd Annual Drosophila Research Conference is nearly here! #Dros21 will be packed with the latest Drosophila research, plenty of networking events to reconnect with your fly folk, plus an extensive professional development program. 

All abstracts will be available in early March, but for those who can’t wait that long, here’s a sneak peek of some of the talks from the Plenary Sessions! Don’t forget to register by February 25 to receive the Early Registration discount. You can also learn more about the full lineup of invited speakers at the conference website.

KEYNOTE

On the trail of the Red Queen: Tales of genetic conflicts

Harmit Malik

The Malik lab studies genetic conflicts that take place between different genomes (e.g., host-virus interactions) or within the same genome (e.g., chromosomal competition at centromeric regions). He is interested in understanding these Red Queen interactions, or “molecular arms races,” and how they drive recurrent genetic innovation. Malik will also discuss personal perspectives on mentoring philosophies that have helped shape his own career and the careers of his trainees.

PLENARY SESSIONS

Investigating the role of SPECC1L Drosophila homolog, Split Discs, in the regulation of non-muscle myosin II contractility

Derek Applewhite

A spectrum of craniofacial disorders are associated with mutations in SPECC1L. The craniofacial phenotypes are suggestive of defects in the migration and adhesion of neural cranial crest cells. Depletion of Drosophila SPECC1L homolog Split Discs (SPDS) leads to proboscis defects and wing blistering. The Applewhite lab has found that SPDS may affect cell migration through regulation of non-muscle myosin (NMII) contractility, with SPDS localizing to NMII and playing a role in focal adhesion dynamics. 

Developmental genetics of regulated exocytosis 

Arash Bashirullah

The stimulus-dependent release of specialized cargoes via regulated exocytosis is a fundamental process in multicellular organisms; however, outside of membrane fusion events occurring during release, this process remains poorly characterized. The Bashirullah lab has identified genes required for secretion that act prior to release, outlining novel cellular pathways that prepare secretory granules for exocytosis.

The evolution of color vision and coloration in butterflies

Adriana Briscoe

Among terrestrial animals that use color as a social signal, there is surprisingly little evidence for the correlated evolution of color vision and coloration. Briscoe will describe the exceptional color vision system of Heliconius butterflies and reveal how the rapid evolution of a new color receptor in the eye together with yellow coloration on the wing is the outcome of both natural and sexual selection.

Drosophila and its parasitic wasps: Understanding the host-parasite interface

Shubha Govind

The more than 50 species of parasitic wasps that attack Drosophila present both potential biocontrol agents and fascinating opportunities for discovery. The Govind lab is investigating manipulation of the host immune system by Leptopilina wasps. The venom of Leptopilina species can suppress Drosophila immunity via protein-packed particles similar to extracellular vesicles. Comparative proteomics of such particles across Leptopilina species with different host specificity are revealing important insights into cellular immunity.

Metabolic regulation of growth and development in Drosophila larvae

Savraj Grewal

In rich nutrients, larvae grow rapidly and develop to pupae in 4–5 days. But when nutrient conditions are poor, growth is reduced and development is delayed. The Grewal lab has discovered a central role for fat body mitochondrial metabolism in the nutrient-dependent control of larval growth and development. Lowering fat body mitochondrial bioenergetic activity remodels adipose glucose metabolism and accelerates whole body growth and development, in part via enhanced systemic insulin signaling. 

Managerial engagement to promote DEI in STEM 

Mala Htun 

Many organizational strategies to promote inclusive climates and advance diversity goals do not have the desired effects. Based on their analysis of what worked to promote diversity in 800 US Corporations across four decades, Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev recommend an approach known as managerial engagement. Htun will outline three strategies putting managerial engagement theory to work in STEM higher education.

Zooming in on gonadogenesis 

Brian Oliver

The most significant differences in the genome and in gene expression among members of a population relate to sex. The Oliver lab explored differences in sex-biased expression in whole animals, tissues, and using single-cell methods. They found remarkable differences in primary spermatocytes, with inactivation of the X and 4th chromosomes and activation of Y-linked gene expression. 

Kids conquering cancer: Celebrating culture to reduce health disparities

Alana O’Reilly

Using a large-scale citizen science approach, the eCLOSE Institute aims to develop diets that optimize health and reduce disease, with a particular focus on patients from backgrounds experiencing egregious health disparities. Participants conduct reverse genetics nutrient screens in Drosophila, choosing dietary interventions and diseases based on relevance to their own families and communities. This inclusive community effort has greatly increased student interest in research careers.

Cell wound repair: Dealing with life’s daily traumas

Susan M. Parkhurst

A cell’s plasma membrane can be damaged by disease, clinical interventions, trauma, and daily wear-and-tear. Within minutes of injury, wounded cells are repaired by dynamic changes of the membrane/cortical cytoskeleton. The Parkhurst lab has established the early syncytial Drosophila embryo as a robust cell wound repair model and are investigating the major steps that are essential to return cells to their pre-wounded states.

How flies get fat: From genes to neurons

Tânia Reis

How do organisms balance energy expenditure and fat storage? The Reis lab uses Drosophila larvae to investigate energy homeostasis and obesity, including inter-organ communication between the brain and fat body. They are investigating how several RNA-binding proteins regulate fat mobilization, as well as their contribution to sexual dimorphism in fat storage. They have also identified the brain as a signaling nexus for learning/memory and fat storage, with Arc1 as a potential mediator.

More than skin deep: Using transparent animals to probe neuronal polarity

Melissa Rolls

Prototypical neurons have dendrites that receive information and axons that send it. What underlies the evolutionarily conserved ability to generate two different types of compartments from materials made in a central cell body? Using Drosophila and the transparent sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, the Rolls lab have shown that microtubule layout is critical for directing polarity of neurons into axons and dendrites across evolution. 

The Bloom syndrome helicase trilogy

Jeff Sekelsky

Using the Dark Knight trilogy as a model, Sekelsky will describe the dual personas of Blm helicase. Is Blm a cancer-blocking, mitotic crossover-fighting hero? Or a villain thwarting the female meiotic crossovers needed for proper chromosome segregation? The Sekelsky lab finds that Blm is needed both to promote a major non-crossover repair pathway and to make meiotic crossovers meiotic. A sequel in production tells a tale explaining crossover interference.

The evolution of novelty by small steps and giant leaps: A tale of two toxins 

Noah Whiteman

The Modern Synthesis posits that adaptation proceeds through gradual steps up adaptive peaks, largely ignoring examples of sudden leaps to peaks that were previously inaccessible. But these disparate processes may be two sides of the same coin. The Whiteman lab found diverse insects have co-opted two toxins—heart poisons from plants and DNAses from bacteria—as natural defenses. These adaptations require both small steps and giant leaps to explain their origin and elaboration.

Genetic dissection of egg-laying decisions 

Rebecca Yang 

Value-based decision-making allows animals to optimize how they acquire and allocate precious resources. The Yang lab uses egg-laying site selection by Drosophila females as a model to study the neural and genetic basis of value-based decision-making. They are investigating how females are able to reject an acceptable but less preferred option according to recent experience and how they are able to remember the location of the preferred option.

The Victoria Finnerty Travel Award supports conference-attendance costs for undergraduate GSA members who are presenting research at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference. Because the conference will be held virtually in 2021 from March 23–April 1, recipients will receive free registrations to #Dros21.

Victoria Finnerty, who died in February 2011, was a long-time member of the Genetics Society of America and served the Drosophila community and the genetics community at large in many capacities. A wonderful geneticist, Vickie’s ground-breaking work as a graduate student used high-resolution recombination analysis to dissect gene structure. This set the stage for a 35-year career in which she excelled as a gifted teacher as well as research scientist. Vickie was also a wise and compassionate mentor and teacher for whom interactions with her students was a constant joy. She constantly sought new ways to engage undergraduates in their genetics courses and in research; this travel fellowship fund continues Vickie’s stellar example.

Dabin Cho, Emory University

Transcription factor Pipsqueak localization to the histone locus body.

Nina Benites, Tufts University

I study the mechanisms by which cells protect their genomes from damage.

Vikas Rana, Brown University

The Zw gene in Drosophila melanogaster was annotated across multiple species to investigate the conservation of the products of alternative gene splicing.

Katrina Haas, UC Santa Cruz

Studies on the role of Abeta 17-42 in Alzheimer’s disease-associated neurodegeneration using Drosophila as a model.

Shaynie Segal, University of Colorado Boulder

We are studying the genetic basis for the regenerative properties of IR- resistant hinge cells in Drosophila melanogaster that translocate to the pouch of the wing disc and promote rapid regeneration after exposure to IR.

Corinne Croslyn, University of Evansville

My work investigates the roles of genes asteroid and Star in Drosophila oogenesis and DNA repair.

Amy Kwan, Washington University in St. Louis

I explore mircoRNA expression in the division of nurse and forager bees and test for alterations in behavior in transgenic Drosophila.

Ben Hinz, University of Iowa

I investigate how amino acid substitutions within lamins affect muscle physiology.

L. Amanda Xu, University of Michigan

Identifying the neurons and genes that mediate cold sensation in fruit fly larvae.

Alexis Perry, University of Massachusetts Boston

My research aims to identify novel protective proteins that prevent photoreceptor degeneration and preserve vision.