5 minute lesson
We Should Really Thank the Fruit Flies
We don’t typically think of fruit flies as being helpful… until now!
You’ve swatted them from your food and may have killed a handful inside of traps, but did you know that fruit flies are actually very genetically similar to us? We’ve got a lot to thank them for, and we’re going to show you some of the interesting things they’ve helped us discover! Because of these gene similarities, scientists have been able to study these tiny beings and learn more about how the systems of our bodies work!
Why It Matters
The kinds of things that we can learn from the most seemingly unrelated creature are amazing! By studying the behavior of these fruit flies, scientists can make important discoveries about mental health and emotions. This research can help many people and could produce some groundbreaking discoveries in the health field.
It’s pretty amazing how we’re all connected, isn’t it? We can learn so much about ourselves and our world by simply studying the other species that inhabit it.
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Deep Look
DEEP LOOK is a science video series that explores big science by going very, very small, from KQED and PBS Digital Studios.
Using macro photography and microscopy they are looking at the world up close.