View source for Fruit Flies (Drosophila Melanogaster)

[[File:Drosophila melanogaster - side (aka).jpg|link=https://www.longewiki.com/wiki/File:Drosophila_melanogaster_-_side_(aka).jpg|alt=|right|frameless]]'''''Drosophila melanogaster''''' is a species of fly (the taxonomic order Diptera) in the family Drosophilidae. The species is often referred to as the '''fruit fly''' or '''lesser fruit fly'''. Starting with Charles W. Woodworth's 1901 proposal of the use of this species as a [[Model Organism|model organism]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050204163323/https://www.nobelprize.org/medicine/laureates/1933/morgan-bio.html T.H. Morgan's Nobel Prize biography mentioning C. W. Woodworth]</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Charles W. Woodworth: The Remarkable Life of U.C.'s First Entomologist| vauthors = Holden B |date=2015-01-01|publisher=Brian Holden Publishing|isbn=9780986410536|edition=1st |pages=135–137|language=en}}</ref> ''D. melanogaster'' continues to be widely used for biological research in genetics, physiology, microbial pathogenesis, and life history evolution. As of 2017, six Nobel Prizes have been awarded to drosophilists for their work using the insect.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nobel Prizes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/07/fruit-fly-fascination-nobel-prizes-genetics|website=The Guardian|date=7 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=FruitFly-ResearchGate|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321176879}}</ref>

''D. melanogaster'' is typically used in research owing to its rapid life cycle, relatively simple genetics with only four pairs of chromosomes, and large number of offspring per generation.<ref name="Encyclopedia of genetics">Sang JH, Reeve EC (June 23, 2001). "Drosophila melanogaster: The Fruit Fly". ''Encyclopedia of genetics''. USA: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, I. p. 157. ISBN <bdi>978-1-884964-34-3</bdi>. Retrieved July 1, 2009.</ref> It was originally an African species, with all non-African lineages having a common origin.{{pmid|15014160}} Its geographic range includes all continents, including islands.{{pmid|26041333}} ''D. melanogaster'' is a common pest in homes, restaurants, and other places where food is served.<ref name="ento.psu.edu">{{cite web|url=http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/vinegar-flies|title=Vinegar Flies, ''Drosophila'' species, Family: ''Drosophilidae''|publisher=Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University|date=2017|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref>