title: Genetics on the Fly: A Primer on the Drosophila Model System.
abstract: Fruit flies of the genus Drosophila have been an attractive and effective genetic model organism since Thomas Hunt Morgan and colleagues made seminal discoveries with them a century ago. Work with Drosophila has enabled dramatic advances in cell and developmental biology, neurobiology and behavior, molecular biology, evolutionary and population genetics, and other fields. With more tissue types and observable behaviors than in other short-generation model organisms, and with vast genome data available for many species within the genus, the fly's tractable complexity will continue to enable exciting opportunities to explore mechanisms of complex developmental programs, behaviors, and broader evolutionary questions. This primer describes the organism's natural history, the features of sequenced genomes within the genus, the wide range of available genetic tools and online resources, the types of biological questions Drosophila can help address, and historical milestones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson North Carolina 28035 kahales@davidson.edu.
authors.forename: Karen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Hales
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina 29424.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Korey
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Larracuente
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic
keywords: Drosophila; comparative genomics; development; model organism