Transgenic Epigenetics: Using Transgenic Organisms to Examine Epigenetic Phenomena

Figure 3

An FRT-FLP mediated approach that can be used to analyze any epigenetic sequence of interest from any organism, in Drosophila. The epigenetic sequence of interest is placed between two FRT sites, with one of more reporter genes positioned adjacent to the sequence of interest, but outside of the FRT sites. Following incorporation into the genome, the transgenic line can be crossed to a source of FLP recombinase, which excises FRT-flanked DNA sequences and thereby mediates removal of the test epigenetic sequence. This approach produces transgenic Drosophila with reporter genes at the same genomic position, but with or without the epigenetic sequence of interest present, thereby controlling for nonspecific genomic and position effects on reporter gene expression.