Drosophila melanogaster and the Development of Biology in the 20th Century -- Getting Started -- FlyBase -- The Use of P-Element Transposons to Generate Transgenic Flies -- The GAL4 System -- P-Element Mutagenesis -- EMS Screens -- RNAi Screening in Cultured Drosophila Cells -- Methods for Homologous Recombination in Drosophila -- Recombinases and Their Use in Gene Activation, Gene Inactivation, and Transgenesis -- Cuticle Preparation of Drosophila Embryos and Larvae -- Immunolabeling of Embryos -- Imaging Cellular and Molecular Dynamics in Live Embryos Using Fluorescent Proteins -- Analysis of Neuromuscular Junctions -- Immunolabeling of Imaginal Discs -- Imaging Drosophila Pupal Wing Morphogenesis -- Microscopic Analysis of the Adult Drosophila Retina Using Semithin Plastic Sections -- Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Protocols in Drosophila Embryos and Tissues -- Linear RNA Amplification for the Production of Microarray Hybridization Probes -- An Overview of the Identification, Detection, and Functional Analysis of Drosophila MicroRNAs -- Extraction and Immunoblotting of Proteins From Embryos -- Purification of Drosophila Protein Complexes for Mass Spectrometry -- Mass Production of Drosophila Embryos and Chromatographic Purification of Native Protein Complexes -- Flow Cytometric Analysis of Drosophila Cells -- Drosophila Cell Lines as Model Systems and as an Experimental Tool.

With its long-standing tradition as a model organism, many techniques using Drosophila melanogaster have been established and continue to be developed, while the recent invention of techniques allowing the knock-down of genes by RNA interference and gene replacement by homologous recombination demonstrates the ongoing efforts to broaden the technical repertoire. In Drosophila: Methods and Protocols, leading experts contribute a collection of protocols covering standard techniques as well as novel methods. As a volume in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series, the chapters contain brief introductions to the subject matter, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and essential, Drosophila: Methods and Protocols allows novices and experts alike to tap into the power of one hundred years of expertise involving this vital model system.