Taste Preference Assay: A Method for Measuring Feeding Behavior in Drosophila
Published: April 30, 2023
Abstract
Source: Bantel, A. P. and Tessier, C. R. Taste Preference Assay for Adult Drosophila. J. Vis. Exp. (2016).
This video describes the taste preference assay, a behavioral method used to measure attraction or avoidance towards colored solutions that taste differently by assessing the fly's abdominal coloration after ingestion of the preferred substance. The featured protocol demonstrates the procedure used to measure flies' preference towards solutions of varying sucrose concentrations.
Protocol
This protocol is an excerpt from Bantel and Tessier, Taste Preference Assay for Adult Drosophila, J. Vis. Exp. (2016). 1. Starvation Prepare fly starvation vials by saturating a cotton ball with 18.2 MΩ water at the bottom of a standard fly vial. Alternatively, similarly saturate a small strip of filter paper with 18.2 MΩ water and place at an angle within the vial. Collect flies into sets of ~100 animals on a CO2 pad and t…
Representative Results
Figure 1: Taste preference assay results. Some examples in the variation of abdominal coloring are shown. Dark red ingested (A). Light red ingested (B). Dark blue ingested (C). Light blue ingested (D). Purple abdomens are considered when the entire coloration appears purple (E), or when distinct regions of the abdomen show portions o…
Materials
| Blue Food Coloring (Water, Propylene Glycol, FD&C Blue 1 and Red 40, Propylparaben) | McCormick | N/A | |
| Cryo/Freezer Boxes w/o Dividers | Fisher | 03-395-455 | |
| Dumont #5 Forceps | Fine Science Tools | 11251-20 | |
| Leica S6 E Stereozoom 0.63X-4.0X microscope | W. Nuhsbaum, Inc. | 10446294 | |
| Petri dish (100 mm x 15 mm) | BD Falcon | 351029 | Reuseable if thoroughly washed and dried |
| Quick-Snap Microtubes | Alkali Scientific Inc. | C3017 | |
| Red Food Coloring (Water, Propylene Glycol, FD&C Reds 40 and 3, Propylparaben) | McCormick | N/A | |
| Sucrose | IBI Scientific | IB37160 |
Citer Cet Article
Taste Preference Assay: A Method for Measuring Feeding Behavior in Drosophila. J. Vis. Exp. (Pending Publication), e20114, doi: (2023).