Drosophila Eye Pigment Pathway Simulator

Choose a genotype

Toggle the genes that affect pigment transport or pigment synthesis. The simulator updates the metabolic pathways, TLC plate, and eye phenotype instantly.

Sex

white gene · X-linked

Transporter subunit needed for both pteridine and ommochrome precursors.

brown gene · autosomal

Required for GTP precursor import into the pteridine pathway.

scarlet gene · autosomal

Required for tryptophan precursor import into the ommochrome pathway.

sepia gene · autosomal

Blocks drosopterin synthesis in the pteridine pathway.

2 · Challenge mode

Unknown fly

Generate an unknown genotype. Students predict the phenotype first, then reveal the pathway explanation.

Click Generate unknown to start.

Pathway logic

Metabolic pathway status

Phenotype

Predicted fly eye color

Wild type brick-red eyes

Present pigments

Pteridines

Ommochrome

Chromatography

Virtual TLC plate: pteridine pigments under UV light

Only pteridine pigments fluoresce on this virtual TLC plate. Ommochrome pigment contributes to eye color but is not shown as a fluorescent TLC band here.

Current

Band legend

Isosepiapterin · yellow

Sepiapterin · yellow

Biopterin · blue

2-amino-4-hydroxypteridine · blue

Xanthopterin · green-blue

Isoxanthopterin · violet-blue

Drosopterin · orange