Wanted: nonselected trait for bio. lab

[Erick Oshel]

Hello,

I am working with the University of California, Davis to redesign the 
genetics lab for an introductory biology course.  Currently, the lab uses 
gel electrophoresis to score ADH in Drosophila.  

We would like to be able to demonstrate genetic drift and the 
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium by establishing small populations taken from a 
larger "infinite" population.  


Question 1:

Ideally, we are looking for traits which are codominant and scorable 
under a disecting microscope without killing the flies.  However, we have 
yet to find a scorable trait which is not selected against!  Any help and 
suggestions on what traits we should use would be appreciated.

Question 2:

Also, I have no idea how long it will take to build up a large enough 
population of flies to simulate an infinte population from which small 
colonies of flies will be removed and allowed to grow on their own. 


 Our hope is that these colonies will demonstrate changes in allele 
frequency.  If this works, the flies will be used to teach several 
introductory biology labs.

Thanks in advance for your help.


-Erick Oshel

etoshel at ucdavis.edu