Drosophila Melanogaster

$ 3 mm long dipteran ( ̄y), commonly known as the fruit ̄y. $ Adult ̄y is yellow-brown in colour, with oval wings and rust-red eyes. $ y180 Mb genome, as four chromosomes X/Y, 2, 3 and 4. $ Genome sequence substantially completed 24 March 2000. $ 120 Mb euchromatic region of genome comprises 13 601 predicted genes. $ Has made signi®cant contribution to understanding of development. $ Large-scale P-insertion mutagenesis (and enhancer-trap), microarray and expression pattern projects underway, proteomics project being set up. $ Comparative studies with insect relatives including grasshoppers, beetles and moths, but mainly used in comparative studies with higher eukaryotes.