A new UC Davis study reveals previously unknown cell types in the female reproductive tract of Drosophila fruit flies. The knowledge could help in studies of fertility in general, and in managing beneficial and pest insects. (Rachel Thayer, UC Davis)
A new UC Davis study reveals previously unknown cell types in the female reproductive tract of Drosophila fruit flies. The knowledge could help in studies of fertility in general, and in managing beneficial and pest insects. (Rachel Thayer, UC Davis)

Invisible Anatomy in the Fruit Fly Uterus

New Discoveries Could Have Implications for Fertility and Pest Control

  • by Andy Fell

You have likely not spent much time thinking about the uterus of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. But then, neither have most scientists, even though Drosophila is one of the most thoroughly studied lab animals. Now a team of biologists at the University of California, Davis, has taken the first deep look at the Drosophila uterus and found some surprises, which could have implications not just for understanding insect reproduction and potentially, pest control, but also for understanding fertility in humans.

The work is published Oct. 25 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Drosophila have been a favorite subject for geneticists and developmental biologists for over a century.

Read the full article here.