Fruit flies

Definition

Fruit flies are small insects commonly used in genetic experiments. They have rapid life cycles and simple genetic structures.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) have a life cycle of about 10 days, making them ideal for genetic studies.
2. They have four pairs of chromosomes, simplifying genetic analysis.
3. Over 75% of known human disease genes have a recognizable match in the fruit fly genome.
4. Due to their short lifespan, fruit flies are excellent models for studying aging and development.
5. They are often used in experiments involving gene expression and mutation.

Review Questions

• Why are fruit flies considered ideal organisms for genetic experiments?
• How many pairs of chromosomes do fruit flies have?
• What percentage of human disease genes have a match in the fruit fly genome?

Related terms

Exponential Function: A function of the form $f(x) = a e^{bx}$ where $e$ is Euler's number and $a$ and $b$ are constants.

Logarithmic Function: $f(x) = \log_b(x)$ is the inverse function of an exponential function $b^y = x$, where $b$ is the base.

Integration by Parts: $\int u \ dv = uv - \int v \ du$, a technique used to integrate products of functions.