Featured below is a digital image of a triple-labeled Drosophila embryo at the cellular blastoderm stage. The specimen was immunofluorescently labeled with antibodies to the hairy protein in red, Kruppel in green, and giant in blue. This amazing image won the BioTechniques cover of the year award in 1993.

Fruit Fly Embryo Specimen: Drosophila Embryo Technique: Fluorescence (Triple Label)

Drosophila is the scientific name for the common fruit fly, which has proven to be a cornerstone in the field of eukaryotic genetics, both at the cellular and molecular level. This insect is approximately three millimeters long and has two wings. However, many of the most interesting genetic mutations render the fruit fly unable to fly, so the afflicted flies move around by climbing or hopping. An ideal habitat for the fruit fly is a warm climate, rich in vegetation that will provide the insect with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, which often serve as a temporary home when the fly burrows into the plants during feeding. The fruit fly is a common household pest during spring and summer and can prove to be a menace to agricultural crops, resulting in extensive economic consequences.