Concept Learning of Regulation of Genetic Expression in Eukaryotes Using Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster is one of the organisms that had been widely used as genetic model organism, including in Genetics lecture in Biology Department, Universitas Negeri Malang. Meanwhile, Genetics lecture in other universities in Malang were still not using D. melanogaster or any other model organism. Therefore, the learning processes were still lack of practical activities. Utilization of D. melanogaster in learning process is useful to increase student’s activity and also to enhance their concept understanding. Eukaryotes Genetics Expression Regulation is one of the concepts studied in Genetics lecture. Expressed traits of D. melanogaster are also influenced by environmental conditions such as high temperature. The development of Genetics lecture module that includes the study of environmental effects on D. melanogaster trait expression can be done to enhance concept understanding on that topic. The module development had been done by Four-D model, and through the validation and small scale trial it was known to be valid with very good qualification. By the development of such module, learning process obstacles especially those that related to practical work because of learning resource unavailability in other universities can be solved.