November 1, 2018 (Vol. 38, No. 19)
URL:
Rating:
Strong Points: Great for recording basic information about the experiment
Weak Points: Can’t input additional notes or information about an experiment
Platform:
iPad/iPhone
Cost:
Free
Summary:
Drosophila Assay Assistant is a useful app for scientists using Drosophila in behavioral experiments. Users can configure the settings of their experiment right within the app, including the total time of the assay, the genotypes and genders of the flies being used, and the age of the flies. During the course of the experiment, users can utilize up to four additional timers for precise documentation of the stages of the assay. Once the assay has concluded, the app retains the data from the experiment right within the app, so that a complete record exists of the flies that were run and for how long. Users can easily export this data so that they can copy it over to a lab notebook or send to collaborators. Although the Drosophila Assay Assistant is fairly basic in its functionality, it is a useful tool to help researchers using flies keep track of their experiments.