National Drosophila Species Stock Center

The National Drosophila Species Stock Center (DSSC) maintains about 2000 different stocks of ~250 individual Drosophila species.  It was established in the 1940's by JT Patterson's laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin.  It was maintained by Patterson's group, largely through the efforts of his former graduate student Marshall R. Wheeler, until 1982 when it moved to Bowling Green State University.  Jong-Sik Yoon served as DSSC Director for the 18 years it was in Bowling Green.  The DSSC moved to the University of Arizona in 2000 and Therese Markow became the Director.  Dr. Markow moved the DSSC to the University of California, San Diego in 2008.  

This year the DSSC will move again, this time to Cornell University, where I will take over as Director.  I am excited about having this amazing resource on campus and look forward to expanding the collection.  The Department of Entomology is the home of the center and has provided an amazing space for the facility in Comstock Hall, named for entomologist John Henry Comstock.  Renovations are ongoing but I'm going to share some recent photos here.  I'll update them as equipment and flies arrive!

Entry

Microscopy Area

Reception

Above and left. Comstock 162 is about 424 square feet.  This room will be the entry and reception area and will house the DSSC library, pinned reference collection, and microscopy equipment.

Below.  Comstock 162 A and B are two large rooms (~225 square feet each).  These will house the bulk of the fly stocks on open shelves, with tables and chairs for stock changing.  Flies will be divided by dietary requirements, one room will be for cornmeal and the other for banana.

Comstock 162A

Comstock 162B

Comstock 162C

Comstock 162D. Soon to be a refrigerator.

Comstock 162C is an office area and will be used for visiting researchers and material storage.  Room 162D will be converted to a large refrigerator for storing fly food.