Fly Stock Genotypes

Use these line shorthand names when entering run metadata in Arena Studio. The same names appear in the saved run metadata, so they are what you will use later to group and compare experiments.

The convention is:

driver > effector

Parentheses hold the driver or stock identifier when the common name alone is ambiguous. Sex, food, cross date, and full chromosome-level genotype are not encoded in the shorthand name; record sex separately in run metadata and use this document for interpretation.

Flies by Ed Rogers

Line Shorthand Names

Line shorthand	Course use	Sexes available	Food / condition	Cross date	Select against
CS x w1118	Wild type control	F, M	Corn Meal	18-Jun
empty split > Kir2.1	Silencing control	F	Corn Meal	18-Jun	Curly, Humeral
T4/T5 (SS00324) > Kir2.1	Silencing experiment	F	Corn Meal	18-Jun	Curly, Humeral
empty split > CsChrimson	Optogenetic activation control	F, M	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun	Curly, Humeral
LC-6 (R_42E06) > CsChrimson	Optogenetic activation	F, M	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun
P1 (15A01;71G01) > CsChrimson	Optogenetic activation	M	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun
Hot Cell (HC-Gal4) > CsChrimson	Optogenetic activation	F	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun
pC1_19 (SS100895) > CsChrimson	Optogenetic activation	M	1:250 Retinal	25-Jun
pC1_17a,b (SS102696) > CsChrimson	Optogenetic activation	M	1:250 Retinal	25-Jun	Curly
MDN-1 (VT050660) > CsChrimson	Moonwalker	F, M	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun	Humeral
NP225 > CsChrimson	Spins	F, M	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun	Bar (eye)
LC-24 (SS02638) > CsChrimson	Forward walking	F, M	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun
Avoidance (SS01159) > CsChrimson	Avoidance	F, M	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun	Humeral
Giant Fiber (17A04-AD;68A06-DBD) > CsChrimson	Giant fiber	F, M	1:250 Retinal	18-Jun
none	No fly / hardware test / metadata placeholder	N/A	N/A

Selecting flies: markers to avoid

The course repository’s current genotype YAML lists visible markers to select against for specific stocks. In other words, choose flies that do not show the marker(s) in this table. The repository is private, so open this link while signed in with the course GitHub account.

Course line	Select against	Practical reading rule
empty split > Kir2.1	Curly, Humeral	Use flies without Curly wings or Humeral.
T4/T5 (SS00324) > Kir2.1	Curly, Humeral	Use flies without Curly wings or Humeral.
empty split > CsChrimson	Curly, Humeral	Use flies without Curly wings or Humeral.
pC1_17a,b (SS102696) > CsChrimson	Curly	Use flies without Curly wings.
MDN-1 (VT050660) > CsChrimson	Humeral	Use flies without Humeral.
NP225 > CsChrimson	Bar (eye)	Use flies without the Bar-eye marker.
Avoidance (SS01159) > CsChrimson	Humeral	Use flies without Humeral.

Full Genotype Reference

Where possible, references are ordered with a foundational driver or cell-type paper first, followed by a later exact driver-effector match when useful.

Reference caveat: These citations are representative examples of how the driver lines and driver-effector combinations have been used. They are not guaranteed to be the original, definitive, or most authoritative reference for every line.

CS x w1118

• Wild type control.
• Source list name: CS X w1118
• Driver: N/A
• Effector: N/A
• Full genotype fields in the source YAML: blank
• Sexes: F, M

empty split > Kir2.1

• Silencing control.
• Source list name: None
• Driver: empty split GAL4
• Effector: Kir2.1
• Full driver genotype: pBPp65ADZp (attP40) ;pBPZpGAL4DBD
• Full effector genotype: w+ (DL); +(DL); pJFRC49-10XUAS- eGFPKir2.1(attP2)
• Sexes: F
• Foundational control-driver reference: Hampel et al. (2015), A neural command circuit for grooming movement control is the original paper associated with this enhancerless split-GAL4 control. No cell-type phenotype is expected from this control.
• Exact control configuration: Keleş, Mongeau & Frye (2019), Object features and T4/T5 motion detectors modulate the dynamics of bar tracking by Drosophila later uses the enhancerless pBPp65ADZp; pBPZpGAL4DBD > eGFP-Kir2.1 cross directly.

T4/T5 (SS00324) > Kir2.1

• Silencing experiment.
• Source list name: T4/T5
• Driver: SS00324
• Effector: Kir2.1
• Full driver genotype: 59E08-p65ADZp(attP40); 42F06-PZpGdbd(attP2)
• Full effector genotype: w+ (DL); +(DL); pJFRC49-10XUAS- eGFPKir2.1(attP2)
• Sexes: F
• Foundational driver reference: Strother et al. (2017), The Emergence of Directional Selectivity in the Visual Motion Pathway of Drosophila uses the R59E08-AD; R42F06-DBD split driver to target T4/T5 and establishes that ON-pathway direction selectivity emerges in T4 dendrites.
• Exact driver + effector confirmation: Keleş, Mongeau & Frye (2019), Object features and T4/T5 motion detectors modulate the dynamics of bar tracking by Drosophila later uses SS00324 > eGFP-Kir2.1; silencing removes the phase-advanced, co-directional steering component of bar tracking while leaving much of the orientation response intact.

empty split > CsChrimson

• Optogenetic activation control.
• Source list name: None
• Driver: empty split GAL4
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: pBPp65ADZp (attP40) ;pBPZpGAL4DBD
• Full effector genotype: w+,20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: F, M
• Foundational control-driver reference: Hampel et al. (2015), A neural command circuit for grooming movement control is the original paper associated with this enhancerless split-GAL4 control. No cell-type activation phenotype is expected from this control.
• Driver + effector-class confirmation: Cheng, Colbath & Frye (2019), Olfactory and Neuromodulatory Signals Reverse Visual Object Avoidance to Approach in Drosophila directly uses pBPp65ADZp; pBPZpGAL4DBD > UAS-Chrimson as the genetic control in flight-steering experiments; its Chrimson reporter has a different tag and insertion site from the course effector.

LC-6 (R_42E06) > CsChrimson

• Optogenetic activation.
• Source list name: LC-6
• Driver: R_42E06
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: GMR42E06-Gal4(attP2)
• Full effector genotype: w+,20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: F, M
• Foundational cell-type phenotype: Wu et al. (2016), Visual projection neurons in the Drosophila lobula link feature detection to distinct behavioral programs finds that LC6-specific split-GAL4 activation with CsChrimson produces high-penetrance jumping; this supports the LC6 assignment and expected phenotype, although it is not the same broad R42E06-GAL4 driver.
• Exact driver + effector confirmation: Vilinsky et al. (2018), Probing Synaptic Transmission and Behavior in Drosophila with Optogenetics: A Laboratory Exercise tests R42E06-GAL4 > 20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus as the “Jumping” line and reports red-light-evoked jumping/startle behavior.

P1 (15A01;71G01) > CsChrimson

• Optogenetic activation.
• Source list name: P1
• Driver: 15A01;71G01
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: 15A01-p65ADZp(attP40);71G01-ZpGdbd(attP2)
• Full effector genotype: w+,20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: M
• Foundational exact-driver reference: Hoopfer et al. (2015), P1 interneurons promote a persistent internal state that enhances inter-male aggression in Drosophila defines the R15A01-AD; R71G01-DBD P1a split driver and shows intensity-dependent aggression and wing extension using thermogenetic and red-light optogenetic activation.
• Exact driver + CsChrimson confirmation: Clemens et al. (2018), Discovery of a New Song Mode in Drosophila Reveals Hidden Structure in the Sensory and Neural Drivers of Behavior uses UAS-CsChrimson; R15A01-AD; R71G01-DBD and shows that P1a activation promotes courtship song.

Hot Cell (HC-Gal4) > CsChrimson

• Optogenetic activation.
• Source list name: Hot Cell
• Driver: HC-Gal4
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: HC-Gal4
• Full effector genotype: w+,20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: F
• Foundational exact-driver characterization: Gallio et al. (2011), The coding of temperature in the Drosophila brain shows that HC-Gal4 labels the three aristal hot receptor neurons, characterizes their warming responses and projections, and shows that their silencing disrupts heat avoidance.
• Early exact-driver functional evidence: Ni et al. (2013), A gustatory receptor paralogue controls rapid warmth avoidance in Drosophila uses HC-Gal4 to show that hot-cell output is required for rapid negative thermotaxis and that restoring Gr28b(D) in these cells rescues the response.
• Exact driver + effector confirmation: Huda et al. (2022), Responses of different Drosophila species to temperature changes tests HC-Gal4 > UAS-CsChrimson directly and finds retinal-dependent avoidance of the illuminated area.

pC1_19 (SS100895) > CsChrimson

• Optogenetic activation.
• Source list name: pC1_19
• Driver: SS100895
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: SS100895
• Full effector genotype: w+,20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: M
• Exact driver + effector (preprint): Rubin et al. (2025), Networks of sexually dimorphic neurons that regulate social behaviors in Drosophila maps SS100895 to P1_19 (the paper’s nomenclature) and reports that SS100895 > 20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus evokes sine song during illumination.

pC1_17a,b (SS102696) > CsChrimson

• Optogenetic activation.
• Source list name: pC1_17a,b
• Driver: SS102696
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: SS102696
• Full effector genotype: w+,20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: M
• Exact driver + effector (preprint): Rubin et al. (2025), Networks of sexually dimorphic neurons that regulate social behaviors in Drosophila maps SS102696 to P1_17a and P1_17b (the paper’s nomenclature) and reports that SS102696 > 20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus evokes a transient pulse-song response at light onset.

MDN-1 (VT050660) > CsChrimson

• Moonwalker.
• Source list note: Moonwalker
• Driver: VT050660-Gal4
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: VT050660-Gal4
• Full effector genotype: 20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: F, M
• Exact-driver activation: Bidaye et al. (2014), Neuronal control of Drosophila walking direction uses VT050660-GAL4 activation to identify moonwalker descending neurons and induce backward walking. This broad driver is less MDN-specific than the later split-GAL4 lines.
• Exact driver + effector: Vilinsky et al. (2018), Probing Synaptic Transmission and Behavior in Drosophila with Optogenetics: A Laboratory Exercise tests VT050660-GAL4 > 20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus as the “Moonwalker” line and reports red-light-evoked backward walking.

NP225 > CsChrimson

• Spins.
• Source list note: Spins
• Driver: NP225
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: NP225
• Full effector genotype: 10XUAS-Chrimson88-tdT
• Sexes: F, M
• Exact driver + effector: Aso et al. (2014), Mushroom body output neurons encode valence and guide memory-based action selection in Drosophila reports that NP225-GAL4 > CsChrimson flies back away from an illuminated region and, when already illuminated, show continuous rotation that typically lasts for the full 30-s light period. “Spins” is course shorthand for that rotation; the paper’s primary interpretation is retreat/backward walking from broad projection-neuron activation.

LC-24 (SS02638) > CsChrimson

• Forward walking.
• Source list note: Forward Walking
• Driver: SS02638
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: SS02638
• Full effector genotype: 20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: F, M
• Exact driver + effector: Wu et al. (2016), Visual projection neurons in the Drosophila lobula link feature detection to distinct behavioral programs identifies SS02638 as LC24 and reports a forward-walking phenotype during CsChrimson activation, especially in the arena assay.

Avoidance (SS01159) > CsChrimson

• Avoidance.
• Source list note: Avoidance
• Driver: SS01159
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: SS01159
• Full effector genotype: 20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: F, M
• Exact driver + effector: Shuai et al. (2025), Driver lines for studying associative learning in Drosophila reports robust avoidance of illuminated quadrants in SS01159 > CsChrimson flies, together with increased movement and turning at the light boundary.

Giant Fiber (17A04-AD;68A06-DBD) > CsChrimson

• Giant fiber.
• Source list note: Giant Fiber
• Driver: 17A04-AD;68A06-DBD
• Effector: CsChrimson
• Full driver genotype: 17A04-AD;68A06-DBD
• Full effector genotype: 20XUAS-CsChrimson-mVenus(attP18);;
• Sexes: F, M
• Exact-driver characterization: von Reyn et al. (2014), A spike-timing mechanism for action selection uses the R17A04-AD;R68A06-DBD split driver to isolate the giant-fiber pair and relates giant-fiber timing to the selection of short versus long takeoff sequences.
• Exact driver + effector: Gaitanidis et al. (2025), The Drosophila escape motor circuit shows differential vulnerability to aging linked to functional decay expresses UAS-CsChrimson with this exact giant-fiber split driver and shows that a 50-ms red-light flash reliably evokes escape.

Notes for metadata entry

• Use the line shorthand exactly when possible.
• Record sex separately. Several lines are sex-specific for the planned experiments.
• Use none only for no-fly hardware tests, bridge tests, or placeholder metadata.
• If a course run uses a genotype not listed here, ask an instructor what shorthand name to use before repeated runs.

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Updated 2026-07-10 01:47 ET.