drosophila
noun
dro·soph·i·la
| \ drō-ˈsä-fə-lə
\
\
Definition of drosophila
: any of a genus (Drosophila) of fruit flies used in genetic research
Examples of drosophila in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Spotted wing drosophila can be a pest; the best control is good sanitation. — Kym Pokorny, OregonLive.com, "What you need to know to grow your own Oregon strawberries," 8 May 2018 In the abdomens of male drosophila lie brain cells which produce a pleasure protein called neuropeptide corazonin, which triggers the release of sperm and seminal fluid. — Melissa Healy, latimes.com, "Fruit flies help explain why a male orgasm matters," 19 Apr. 2018 And drosophila are poor fliers, rarely commuting between kipukas. — Elyse Butler, Smithsonian, "Hawaii’s Must-See Lava Flows Are Home to New, Startling Ecosystems," 29 Apr. 2017 A lot of the evolution research done here has focused on drosophila— — Elyse Butler, Smithsonian, "Hawaii’s Must-See Lava Flows Are Home to New, Startling Ecosystems," 2 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'drosophila.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for drosophila
drosophila
noun
dro·soph·i·la
| \ drō-ˈsäf-ə-lə, drə-
\
\
Medical Definition of drosophila
1
capitalized
: a genus of small dipteran flies that include many (as D. melanogaster) extensively used in genetic research
2
: any fly of the genus Drosophila