Question

Scientists often use fruit flies as a method to test hypotheses about human genes. Why are fruit flies advantageous in the study of human inheritance?
They can self-pollinate.
They lack nucleic acids.
They are very different from humans.
They reproduce quickly and take up little space.

Answer 1

Fruit flies, specifically Drosophila melanogaster, are advantageous in the study of human inheritance primarily because **they reproduce quickly and take up little space**. These characteristics allow scientists to conduct experiments on large populations in a short period of time, facilitating the observation of inheritance patterns across generations. Additionally, fruit flies share many genetic similarities with humans, making them a suitable model organism for studying gene function and genetic disorders.