Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as the fruit fly, is a small insect widely used in genetic research. It has a short life cycle of about 10 days, making it ideal for studying inheritance patterns and mutations. The fly is easily maintained in laboratory conditions and can produce hundreds of offspring, allowing scientists to observe genetic variations quickly. This species has a simple genome, which was fully sequenced in 2000, providing valuable insights into genetics and developmental biology. Drosophila melanogaster has contributed significantly to our understanding of fundamental biological processes, including gene expression, cell signaling, and neurobiology.