Part of the Stan-X program, a partnership with the fruit fly lab of Professor Seung Kim at Stanford University School of Medicine, this course is appropriate for students who are interested in conducting authentic research that could contribute to finding cures for diseases like pancreatic cancer and diabetes. Students will learn current techniques in molecular biology as they use CRISPR to modify transgenic flies and then characterize the genetic modifications with molecular analysis. The unique fly lines produced in this class will become part of a fly repository used by Dr. Kim and other professionals around the world to conduct groundbreaking research. In addition to developing extensive laboratory skills, students will gain a deep understanding of fly biology by reading primary literature as well as learn techniques in larval fly dissection and fluorescence microscopy.