8. Fruit Fly Development

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most studied organisms in biology. By understanding its life cycle and learning the anatomy of its various stages, a developmental biologist can form a valuable bridge between genetics and development.

In this chapter, students are given detailed information on the organism’s life cycle and instructed on how to culture the organism.

Tables of developmental stages and rates are included..

Procedures are given for:

Observing mating behaviors
Collecting and examining eggs
Dechorionating the egg
Observing embryonic development
Observing later development
Studying the anatomy of the larva
Dissecting imaginal discs
Experimentally everting imaginal discs
Making whole mounts of imaginal discs
Making chromosome squashes from salivary glands
Studying the stages of the pupa