Drosophila, a fly that helps genetics research

Being a tiny fly attracted by the sweet smell of adulterated alcohol that emanates from ripe fruit, and laying its eggs there, does not prevent you from having an incredible scientific career.

Indeed, this species has been used for almost a century in research laboratories, particularly in the field of genetics and the deciphering of cellular and molecular mechanisms. Several Nobel Prize winners owe him a lot. For example, Jules Hoffmann who worked on the mechanisms of immunity.

It must be said that the reproduction cycle of these insects is approximately ten days, with a longevity which does not exceed thirty days at 29°C. Enough to facilitate in a short time the monitoring of successive generations and the developments that can be noticed there.

The insect is thus one of the privileged animal species, whose genetic code has already been completely deciphered, which has made it possible to identify the location of its 15,000 genes on the four chromosomes contained in each of its cells.

For all these services rendered, French law has granted, since 2006, the status of domestic animal to this laboratory fly, with all the legal considerations that this implies within these research institutes. Drosophila was thus able, ultimately, to defend itself well… to the point of making itself indispensable.