ABSTRACT
The classical Drosophila approach to analysing gene function is mutagenesis which typically involves identifying an appropriate phenotype and performing a random mutagenesis and then screening the resultant progeny for the desired phenotype. In all cases, the aim is for the expressed protein to cause degeneration of the cells which results in abnormal morphology creating a characteristic phenotype that can be readily observed and constitute part of rapid screen. As well as neurological disease there is also an increase in the occurrence of brain injury and disability caused by central nervous system injury. Thus, with Drosophila it is possible not only to model neurodegenerative diseases but also to study the progression of the diseases in a single neuron with a remarkable level of sub-cellular precision, thus enabling the authors to gain insight into the very early stages of the disease before there is extensive neuronal death and pathology.
