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First in Fly: Drosophila Research and Biological Discovery
A single species of fly, Drosophila melanogaster , has been the subject of scientific research for more than one hundred years. Why does this tiny insect merit such intense scrutiny?
Drosophila ’s importance as a research organism began with its short life cycle, ability to reproduce in large numbers, and easy-to-see mutant phenotypes. Over time, laboratory investigation revealed surprising similarities between flies and other animals at the level of genes, gene networks, cell interactions, physiology, immunity, and behavior. Like humans, flies learn and remember, fight microbial infection, and slow down as they age. Scientists use Drosophila to investigate complex biological activities in a simple but intact living system. Fly research provides answers to some of the most challenging questions in biology and biomedicine, including how cells transmit signals and form ordered structures, how we can interpret the wealth of human genome data now available, and how we can develop effective treatments for cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Written by a leader in the Drosophila research community, First in Fly celebrates key insights uncovered by investigators using this model organism. Stephanie Elizabeth Mohr draws on these “first in fly” findings to introduce fundamental biological concepts gained over the last century and explore how research in the common fruit fly has expanded our understanding of human health and disease.
Drosophila ’s importance as a research organism began with its short life cycle, ability to reproduce in large numbers, and easy-to-see mutant phenotypes. Over time, laboratory investigation revealed surprising similarities between flies and other animals at the level of genes, gene networks, cell interactions, physiology, immunity, and behavior. Like humans, flies learn and remember, fight microbial infection, and slow down as they age. Scientists use Drosophila to investigate complex biological activities in a simple but intact living system. Fly research provides answers to some of the most challenging questions in biology and biomedicine, including how cells transmit signals and form ordered structures, how we can interpret the wealth of human genome data now available, and how we can develop effective treatments for cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Written by a leader in the Drosophila research community, First in Fly celebrates key insights uncovered by investigators using this model organism. Stephanie Elizabeth Mohr draws on these “first in fly” findings to introduce fundamental biological concepts gained over the last century and explore how research in the common fruit fly has expanded our understanding of human health and disease.
- GenresScienceBiologyNonfiction
272 pages, Hardcover
Published March 9, 2018
24 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 14, 2021
I’ve highlighted everything in this book right to the end of the appendices and even the acknowledgments. The appendix comparing organs/cells in humans and flies: chef’s kiss!!!
I feel like my brain got bigger in size just reading this. It’s a nice collection of Drosophila research. From the very basics of a flyroom to almost all major discoveries made by the help of the humble fly. Plus some fun at-home fly pushing tips!
It also has a bunch of great book suggestions in the end that I hope to get around to reading some time:
1. Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Sean B. Carroll
2. Essays Upon Heredity, August Weismann
3. FlyBook, an article series in the journal Genetics
4. Heredity and Variation, L. C. Dunn
5. A History of Genetics, A. H. Sturtevant
6. The Life of the Fly, Jean-Henri Fabre
Lords of the Fly, Robert E. Kohler
7. The Making of a Fly, Peter A. Lawrence
8. The Natural History of Flies, Harold Oldroyd
9. Time, Love, Memory, Jonathan Weiner (superb book! I highly recommend)
I feel like my brain got bigger in size just reading this. It’s a nice collection of Drosophila research. From the very basics of a flyroom to almost all major discoveries made by the help of the humble fly. Plus some fun at-home fly pushing tips!
It also has a bunch of great book suggestions in the end that I hope to get around to reading some time:
1. Endless Forms Most Beautiful, Sean B. Carroll
2. Essays Upon Heredity, August Weismann
3. FlyBook, an article series in the journal Genetics
4. Heredity and Variation, L. C. Dunn
5. A History of Genetics, A. H. Sturtevant
6. The Life of the Fly, Jean-Henri Fabre
Lords of the Fly, Robert E. Kohler
7. The Making of a Fly, Peter A. Lawrence
8. The Natural History of Flies, Harold Oldroyd
9. Time, Love, Memory, Jonathan Weiner (superb book! I highly recommend)
June 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this book and will be one that I refer to a lot in my future lab. Maybe it will be part of lab journal club to read a chapter every other month or so. I’m a big fan of knowing scientific history.
April 7, 2018
An Exciting Story About Biological Research
This is an essential book for understanding the importance of model organism biological research for outcomes central to human health and welfare. For example, fly research contributed to our understanding of epigenetic changes and transmission.
This is an essential book for understanding the importance of model organism biological research for outcomes central to human health and welfare. For example, fly research contributed to our understanding of epigenetic changes and transmission.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews