Drosophila (Noun)
Meaning
Small fruit fly used by Thomas Hunt Morgan in studying basic mechanisms of inheritance.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Thomas Hunt Morgan used drosophila in his experiments to study the basic mechanisms of inheritance and genetic variation.
- Drosophila, a small fruit fly, was chosen by Morgan for its short life cycle and ability to produce multiple generations in a short period.
- Morgan's work with drosophila led to the discovery of sex-linked traits and the development of the chromosomal theory of inheritance.
- The use of drosophila in Morgan's research allowed him to study the effects of genetic mutations on the development and behavior of the flies.
- Drosophila has since become a widely used model organism in genetics and developmental biology research, thanks in part to Morgan's pioneering work.