Drosophila embryogenesis

Ventral view of repeating denticle bands on the cuticle of a 22-hour-old embryo. The head is on the left.

Drosophila embryogenesis, the process by which Drosophila (fruit fly) embryos form, is a favorite model system for genetics and developmental biology. The study of its embryogenesis unlocked the century-long puzzle of how development was controlled, creating the field of evolutionary developmental biology.[1] The small size, short generation time, and large brood size make it ideal for genetic studies. Transparent embryos facilitate developmental studies. Drosophila melanogaster was introduced into the field of genetic experiments by Thomas Hunt Morgan in 1909.

  1. ^ Carroll, Sean B. "The Origins of Form". Natural History. Retrieved 12 October 2016.