FreeClimber: automated quantification of climbing performance in Drosophila [METHODS [amp ] TECHNIQUES]

We present an alternative: FreeClimber. This open source, Python-based platform subtracts a video's static background to improve detection for flies moving across heterogeneous backgrounds. FreeClimber calculates a cohort's velocity as the slope of the most linear portion of a mean vertical position versus time curve. It can run from a graphical user interface for optimization or a command line interface for high-throughput and automated batch processing, improving accessibility for users with different expertise. FreeClimber outputs calculated slopes, spot locations for follow-up analyses (e.g. tracking), and several visualizations and plots. We demonstrate FreeClimber's utility in a longitudinal study for endurance exercise performance in Drosophila mitonuclear genotypes using six distinct mitochondrial haplotypes paired with a common D. melanogaster nuclear background.

Source: Journal of Experimental Biology - January 15, 2021 Category: Biology Authors: Spierer, A. N., Yoon, D., Zhu, C.-T., Rand, D. M. Tags: METHODS [amp ] TECHNIQUES Source Type: research