The term "Drosophila", meaning "dew-loving", is a modern scientific Latin adaptation from Greek words δρόσος, drósos, " See more

Under optimal growth conditions at 25 °C (77 °F), the D. melanogaster lifespan is about 50 days from egg to death. The developmental period for D. melanogaster varies with temperature, as with many ectothermic species. The shortest development time … See more

The genome of D. melanogaster (sequenced in 2000, and curated at the FlyBase database ) contains four pairs of chromosomes – an … See more

Drosophila flies have both X and Y chromosomes, as well as autosomes. Unlike humans, the Y chromosome does not confer maleness; rather, it encodes genes necessary for making sperm. Sex is instead determined by the ratio of X chromosomes to … See more

Unlike humans, the sex and physical appearance of fruit flies is not influenced by hormones. The appearance and sex of fruit flies is determined only by genetic information. See more

D. melanogaster remains one of the most studied organisms in biological research, particularly in genetics and developmental biology. It is also employed in studies of environmental mutagenesis.
History of use in genetic analysis
D. melanogaster … See more

The life cycle of this insect has four stages: fertilized egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Embryogenesis in Drosophila has been extensively studied, as its small size, short generation time, and large brood size makes it ideal for … See more