# Patterned Gene Expression in Drosophila Development

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIF-LAWRENC BERKELEY LAB · 2020 · $485,914

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Animal development and differentiation proceeds by the sequential activation of gene expression accompanied
by cell division, differential development and movement to form organ primordia. Our primary goal is to
elucidate the complex network of spatial and genetic interactions that underlies the processes of normal
development, disease and evolution. A comprehensive analysis of these interactions requires knowledge of the
gene expression profiles for the complement of protein-coding and non-coding genes in an organism. The
Berkeley Drosophila Genome Project (BDGP) has established a gene expression resource for Drosophila
embryonic development that contains spatial and temporal expression patterns determined from whole mount
RNA in-situ hybridization. These patterns are annotated using a standardized controlled anatomical ontology
and the images are presented in a standardized virtual representation of the patterns to facilitate ontology and
image based search and analysis. Specifically we propose to produce organ system and gene family RNA
expression networks based on spatial patterns of expression and expand the collection to include non-coding
genes; assay patterns of expression driven by putative CRMs for transcription factors (TFs) and selected TF
target genes and analyze the expression using our computational image analysis tools. The organ system
expression profiles produced by our study will provide fundamental information for elucidating embryonic
development in Drosophila and, by homology, in other eukaryotes, including humans. The roles of most non-
coding RNAs in particular remain unknown. The spatial expression driven by cis-regulatory regions will provide
insights into the developmental roles of the transcription factors. The integration of spatiotemporal expression
data from coding transcripts, non-coding transcripts and CRM reporters will promote discovery of networks of
regulatory interactions. These studies are directed toward the understanding of life processes and lay the
foundation for promoting better human health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10018883
- **Project number:** 5R01GM076655-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIF-LAWRENC BERKELEY LAB
- **Principal Investigator:** SUSAN E CELNIKER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $485,914
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2006-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10018883

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10018883, Patterned Gene Expression in Drosophila Development (5R01GM076655-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10018883. Licensed CC0.

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