A new Odyssey
the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster ( D melanogaster ) is the mad scientist's ultimate dream. Toying around with some of its genes can lead to bizarre physiological changes. Mutations in these genes, called homeotic genes as homeosis means "replacement of one body part by another', can cause legs to grow where the eyes are supposed to be, or perhaps, balancers in place of wings. Scientists have known the existence of these genes in D melanogaster for years.
More recently however, such genes have been found in a number of species