Eliminating Ether by using Ice for Drosophila Labs

 

Denise Ratterman

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2003, Volume 24

Abstract

This mini-workshop demonstrated an approach that can be adopted in a genetics lab to immobilize Drosophila using crushed ice rather than chemical anesthetization or chilling in a freezer. Vials can be cleared very quickly using this method. Offspring flies do not wake up, but rather, are kept immobile on a chilled metal plate for as long as the student keeps them cold. Flies for matings regain normal posture and movement in only a few minutes after being returned to a room temperature vial. The use of ice has helped our multiple lab sections entirely eliminate ether, which was both a health and a fire hazard concern. Instructor- and student-suggested improvements have helped reduce problems and streamline this method for quick immobilization, ease of examination, and rapid recovery for successful crosses with large numbers of offspring.

Keywords:  Drosophila, anesthesia

Louisiana State University (2002)