Drosophila and zebrafish have been incorporated into undergraduate teaching laboratories and independent research projects at Missouri Western State University. Both of these model organisms are accepted model organisms for the study of embryonic development, genetic based diseases and in toxicology. This poster outlines and presents specific protocols and practical information for how these two model organisms are used at a predominately undergraduate institution with limited available resources. Examples of recent student projects will be presented, including the use of Drosophila in student-driven studies that test the effects of diet on the regulation of metabolism and physiological function.