These are just some of the scientific spin-offs from sequencing the genome of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster . Humans and fruit flies are closely related. Of the fly's 13,601 genes, scientists believe that possibly two-thirds may have counterparts in humans. No wonder the fruit fly has become the classic lab model. Blood diseases Even the differences are illuminating.
Fruit flies have no lungs.
They absorb oxygen from the atmosphere through holes in their sides. This has resulted in the insect evolving a particular kind of haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in its bloodstream. This haemoglobin molecule is not susceptible to the same diseases and defects such as those that cause thalassaemia in humans. Understanding why the blood of a fruit fly works this way may just help us understand why humans develop the blood diseases they do. Cancer is another area that may benefit.