Summary: Dr. Rosbash reveals that the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) has a biological clock in its nervous system. Although tiny in size, the fruit fly has had a major impact on our understanding of circadian rhythms. The fruit fly served as the instrument with which scientists proved that certain behaviors such as rest and activity are under direct genetic control. Although much remains to be learned, the outlines of how the biological clock functions have emerged from research on this singular insect.
