drosophila

(drō-sŏf'ə-lə, drə-)
n.
Any of various small fruit flies of the genus Drosophila, especially D. melanogaster, used extensively in genetic research.

[New Latin Drosophila, genus name : Greek drosos, dew + New Latin -phila, feminine of -philus, -phile.]

View more Science videos

For more information on drosophila, visit Britannica.com.

a genus of small dipterous insects that includes the fruit fly, D. melanogaster, also known as vinegar fly or banana fly. This is much used in genetic research because of the giant chromosomes, which occur in the cells of its salivary glands, and because of its short life cycle.

Previous:	Drosha, Drk, DraI
Next:	Drp1, Drude equation, DsbA

For a list of words related to drosophila, see:

• Insects and arachnids

---

See words rhyming with "drosophila."