Using CRISPR to Identify the Functions of Butterfly Genes

Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — AP/IB College

Used In

1 BioInteractive Playlists

Saved By

21 Users

Description

In this activity, students explore using CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out butterfly genes in order to determine their function.

Students first learn how CRISPR-Cas9 identifies and alters a target sequence in DNA. They then design their own CRISPR-Cas9 system to inactivate a butterfly gene and examine the resulting phenotype. The activity includes an optional exercise in which students apply what they have learned to determine the function of a different gene. This activity can be used to review concepts of sequence complementarity, genotype-to-phenotype connections, and mutations.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

Identify complementary nucleotide sequences to plan the design of a biotechnology tool.
Interpret the connection between genotype and phenotype for a particular trait.

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

base pairing, complementary sequence, exon, gene inactivation, gene knockout, guide RNA, intron, nuclease, optix, phenotype

Primary Literature

Zhang, Linlin, Anyi Mazo-Vargas, and Robert D. Reed. “Single master regulatory gene coordinates the evolution and development of butterfly color and iridescence.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114, 40 (2017): 10707–10712. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1709058114.

Zhang, Linlin and Robert D. Reed. “Genome editing in butterflies reveals that spalt promotes and Distal-less represses eyespot colour patterns.” Nature Communications 7, 1 (2016): 11769. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11769.