Fly
hideNematocera (includes Eudiptera) Brachycera
True flies are insects of the order Diptera (Greek: di = two, and pteron = wing), possessing a single pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax.
The presence of a single pair of wings distinguishes true flies from other insects with "fly" in their name, such as mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, stoneflies, whiteflies, fireflies, alderflies, dobsonflies, snakeflies, sawflies, caddisflies, butterflies or scorpionflies. Some true flies have become secondarily wingless, especially in the superfamily Hippoboscoidea, or among those that are inquilines in social insect colonies.
Diptera is a large order, containing an estimated 240,000 species of mosquitos, gnats, midges and others, although under half of these (about 120,000 species) have been described. It is one of the major insect orders both in terms of ecological and human (medical and economic) importance. The Diptera, in particular the mosquitoes (Culicidae), are of great importance as disease transmitters, acting as vectors for malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever, encephalitis and other infectious diseases.
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News tagged with flies
Scientists discover a new way in which epigenetic information is inherited
Biology /
Nov 27, 2008 |
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Hereditary information flows from parents to offspring not just through DNA but also through the millions of proteins and other molecules that cling to it. These modifications of DNA, known as "epigenetic marks," act both ...
Balancing protein intake, not cutting calories, may be key to long life
Dec 02, 2009 |
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Getting the correct balance of proteins in our diet may be more important for healthy ageing than reducing calories, new research funded by the Wellcome Trust and Research into Ageing suggests.
'Fly guy' makes memory breakthrough
Dec 10, 2008 |
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Dr. Francois Bolduc keeps more than 300,000 fruit flies in a basement laboratory, where he manipulates their genes and then tests their mental abilities. He's called the "fly guy," and he may sound like a ...
Researchers observe evolution chain reaction
Biology /
Feb 05, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (15) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of researchers are reporting the ongoing emergence of a new species of fruit fly--and the sequential development of a new species of wasp--in the February 6 issue of the journal Science.
Why the thumb of the right hand is on the left hand side
May 22, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (13) |
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It is the concentration of a few signaling molecules that determines the fate of individual cells during the early development of organisms. In the renowned journal Current Biology, a team of molecular biologists led by Pia ...
100 reasons to change the way we think about genetics
May 18, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (13) |
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For years, genes have been considered the one and only way biological traits could be passed down through generations of organisms. Not anymore.
Old flies can become young moms
Biology /
Nov 24, 2008 |
4.3 / 5 (13) |
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Female flies can turn back the biological clock and extend their lifespan at the same time, University of Southern California biologists report.
Duke team finds compounds that prevent nerve damage
Sep 23, 2008 |
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Duke University Medical Center scientists have made a significant finding that could lead to better drugs for several degenerative diseases including Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Compounds that block the ...
Biological 'Clock' Influences Damage Done by Oxidative Stress
Biology /
Aug 05, 2008 |
4.3 / 5 (10) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Swing shift workers and frequent fliers beware – scientists have identified yet another biological issue that relates to the “circadian clock” found in almost every species from insects to humans, and discovered ...
Dogs, maybe not, but old genes can learn new tricks
May 11, 2009 |
5 / 5 (8) |
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A popular view among evolutionary biologists that fundamental genes do not acquire new functions was challenged this week by a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Reverse evolution in real-time
Biology /
Jan 11, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (8) |
3
Evolutionary biology tells us that replaying life's tape will not not look at all like the original. The outcome of evolution is contingent on everything that came before. Now, scientists at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia ...
Fruit-fly study adds weight to theories about another type of adult stem cell
Biology /
Jul 31, 2008 |
4.9 / 5 (7) |
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It turns out that an old dog - or at least an old fruit-fly cell - can learn new tricks. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that mature, specialized cells naturally regress to serve as a ...
Sleep: Spring cleaning for the brain?
Apr 02, 2009 |
4.1 / 5 (8) |
5
(PhysOrg.com) -- If you've ever been sleep-deprived, you know the feeling that your brain is full of wool.
Evolution of human sex roles more complex than described by universal theory
Apr 24, 2009 |
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A new study challenges long-standing expectations that men are promiscuous and women tend to be more particular when it comes to choosing a mate. The research, published by Cell Press in the April issue of the journal Trends in ...
New insights into health and environmental effects of carbon nanoparticles
Nanotechnology / Bio & Medicine
Aug 05, 2009 |
5 / 5 (6) |
2
Carbon nanoparticles are widely used in medicine, electronics, optics, materials science and architecture, but their health and environmental impact is not fully understood.
