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The most crucial species for science has been identified: a tiny organism that has revolutionized four fields of research.

Scientists have concluded that for over a century, fruit flies have been one of the most significant species for research.
Объявлен самый значимый вид для науки: малюсенькое создание изменило четыре направления исследований.

The ordinary fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), also known as the vinegar fly, is a frequent visitor to ripe fruits in homes around the globe. Members of this species often lay their eggs on ripe fruits and decaying flesh, remaining unnoticed — in simple terms, nearly everyone on the planet has likely consumed some part of fruit flies without any health repercussions. Now, scientists believe that fruit flies are also one of the most important species for science over the past century, as reported by PHYS.org.

What makes them so special? Researchers note that without these flies, some of the most significant scientific discoveries may never have been made.

This species originated in the forests of south-central Africa, where it largely depended on the fruits of the marula tree. These fruits have been and continue to be part of the human diet in this region, leading to the development of a connection between fruit flies and human communities and settlements. Scientists have found that over time, this association has allowed fruit flies to spread throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe, and after several centuries, they reached North and Central America, as well as Australia.

Most non-pest insects receive little scientific attention, but not fruit flies. Some of the characteristics that make fruit flies such popular research organisms are innate, such as:

  • they are small;
  • they are easy to feed;
  • they have a short life cycle;
  • fruit flies can produce hundreds of offspring.

However, the discoveries of modern researchers studying Drosophila melanogaster are also largely due to decades of developing genetic tools. Collectively, these factors help explain why the fruit fly has played a crucial role in four areas of research and has also transformed four fields of study.

Understanding Genes

The fruit fly genome was first sequenced in the 1990s. This was part of a pilot project for assembling the human genome, as well as for comparing the genes of different animals.

Researchers discovered that fruit fly genes are organized into chromosomes by crossing red-eyed and mutant white-eyed flies. This study was conducted over a century ago, but such crosses remain a powerful way to illustrate principles of inheritance.

Scientists have also found that many fruit fly genes show a clear connection to certain human genes — including 65% associated with human diseases.

Understanding Damaged Tissues

Different species of animals vary greatly in their abilities to repair damaged structures. For instance, flatworms cut in half can still regenerate the rest of their body. Unfortunately, this knowledge does not shed light on humans' ability to heal wounds.

At the same time, fruit flies, which, like humans, consist of many complex tissues, have played a crucial role in mapping the molecular interactions involved in ensuring cell migration and stitching them together for the repair of damaged tissues.

It is worth noting that fruit flies are also a favored model for cancer research.

Understanding Disease Control

In addition to providing tools and biological understanding applicable to medicine and biology, fruit flies have also contributed to disease control. For example, Wolbachia bacteria isolated from this species are used to suppress the transmission of dengue fever and other viral human diseases. This work has already prevented numerous cases of dengue fever transmission in northern Australia and many countries worldwide.

Understanding Evolution

Fruit flies represent useful experimental systems for studying evolution. This is especially true in the context of conserving endangered species. Researchers note that this work has established the value of preserving genetic diversity in species, particularly those that are endangered.