Gene Mutation in Fruit Flies Used To Study Kidney Stone Formation

Science Daily published an article entitled “Flies Reveal Kidney Stones In-The-Making” from a research study by Dr. Thomas Chi. Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, has been utilized in recent studies of  kidney stone formation in humans. Fruit flies have a gene mutation which is responsible for the development of kidney stones that are similar to kidney stones in humans. Due to the fruit flies short life cycle, researchers are able to study kidney stone formation quickly. The study revealed the significance of zinc and genes that are responsible for zinc transportation in the development of kidney stones in flies and humans.

I was very interested to read yet another research study done with Drosophila melanogaster. The fruit fly is a model organism used in research labs all across the county to study and understand the biology of other organisms such as humans.

Article Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130407090734.htm

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120323/Fruit-flies-too-get-kidney-stones.aspx