Scanning electron micrograph of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The specimen is a White Miniature Fork mutant. Drosophila is chosen as the subj

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Scanning electron micrograph of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The specimen is a White Miniature Fork mutant. Drosophila is chosen as the subject of genetic experiments, particularly on mutation, because it is easy to raise in large numbers & reproduces rapidly. Mutations shown here include wing size & shape, & the formation of the bristles. The wings on a normal fly are longer, extending beyond the end of the body, & fold over the abdomen when at rest. The bristles (setae) on the body are shorter in the mutant & many are distorted, either curled or forked. This mutant also has white compound eyes, whereas the wild fly has red ones. Magnification: x60 at 8x10-inch size

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Size: 3706px × 5144px
Photo credit: © DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, drosophila, experiment, fly, fruit, genetic, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, melanogaster, mutant, mutation, mutations, nature, setae, subject, white, wildlife, zoology