The fruit fly is a favorite specimen for biological research, and it has been utilized in the studies of a vast array of subjects ranging from sleep disorders to cocaine addiction. The digital image presented below features a double-labeled fluorescence image of a Drosophila imaginal disc from the second larval instar stage of development.

Fruit Fly Imaginal Disc: Second Instar Specimen: Drosophila Imaginal Disc Technique: Fluorescence (Double Label)

In a recent study conducted at the University of Connecticut, researchers found that modifying a particular fruit fly chromosome, of which humans have a comparative counterpart, resulted in mutated flies whose life spans were up to double that of normal fruit flies. Not only was the lifespan increased, but also quality of life appeared to be maintained. In addition, female mutants continued to reproduce until death, often producing as many as two hundred offspring.