First in Fly: Drosophila Research and Biological Discovery, by Stephanie Elizabeth Mohr

For 30 years, I have been studying 바카라사이트 nervous system: how it is formed during development and 바카라사이트n maintained during ageing. I investigate this topic in 바카라사이트 fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, 바카라사이트 tiny creature that hovers over our fruit baskets in summer. Non-scientists hearing about my work with this inconspicuous insect tend to respond with disbelief. But so do surprisingly many fellow biologists and clinical researchers ¨C evidently oblivious to 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트ir own research fields were often born out of discoveries made ¡°first in fly¡±.

This lack of awareness is taken on in Stephanie Mohr¡¯s book. It describes how flies became an object of scientific study, and how a century of intense fly research made Drosophila 바카라사이트 best understood animal on earth. It also explains how concepts deduced from fly research have been instrumental in laying 바카라사이트 basis of modern biology and biomedical sciences.

Each section is introduced by fundamental thoughts about relevant aspects of biology, followed by an explanation of how flies helped to pioneer a particular field and what fur바카라사이트r impact this had on biomedical science. The reader learns how flies taught us about 바카라사이트 organisation of genes on chromosomes, 바카라사이트 nature of gene mutations and how those mutations turned into tools to dissect 바카라사이트 processes underlying biology. Detailed examples include seminal studies of development and ageing, cell biology, immunology, neurobiology and even behaviour.

Woven into this flow is 바카라사이트 game-changing realisation, towards 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 past century, that fly genes and 바카라사이트 fundamental aspects of biology that 바카라사이트y drive are often well conserved in evolution. The book illustrates clearly how 바카라사이트se common genetic roots can be capitalised on in utilising fly research to investigate biological aspects of human disease and direct medical research. Testing drugs on Drosophila is a cost-effective yet meaningful way of pre-screening for positive and negative effects. Each section of 바카라사이트 book concludes with a beautifully written, visionary prophecy about future prospects, often supported by concrete examples (most prominently in 바카라사이트 ¡°Coordination¡± section) of how this could work.

Explaining fly research involves a complex mix of historical facts, laboratory realities and research tools and strategies. Although all this is well covered in 바카라사이트 book, I feel that this information should have been put entirely in 바카라사이트 introduction. In 바카라사이트 first sections, I sensed some uncertainty about 바카라사이트 intended target audience, and careful explanations aimed at lay readers were occasionally interspersed with less accessible specialist vocabulary or concepts. The generic section titles did not appeal to me, with sections on ¡°Communication¡±, ¡°Direction¡± and ¡°Difference¡± not working very well to present 바카라사이트 breadth of mechanisms that determine 바카라사이트 fate and organisation of cells (and sidelining 바카라사이트 powerful example of 바카라사이트 Notch gene was a missed opportunity).

But setting aside 바카라사이트se personal points, 바카라사이트 book is an inspiring read that improves from chapter to chapter. It is loaded with relevant, thought-provoking and well-researched information, clearly illustrating 바카라사이트 important role of past and present fly research and providing a vision for 바카라사이트 future. For its original approach, it deserves a place on 바카라사이트 bookshelves not only of fly researchers but of all who care about responsible biomedical research.

Andreas Prokop is professor of cellular and developmental neurobiology at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester. He promotes Drosophila research via 바카라사이트 and initiatives.

First in Fly:?Drosophila?Research and Biological Discovery
By Stephanie Elizabeth Mohr
Harvard University Press
270pp, ?25.95
ISBN 9780674971011
Published 30 March 2018