The Drosophila genome

The past year has been a spectacular one for Drosophila research. The sequencing and annotation of the Drosophila melanogaster genome has allowed a comprehensive analysis of the first three eukaryotes to be sequenced-yeast, worm and fly-including an analysis of the fly's influences as a model for the study of human disease. This year has also seen the initiation of a full-length cDNA sequencing project and the first analysis of Drosophila development using high-density DNA microarrays containing several thousand Drosophila genes. For the first time homologous recombination has been demonstrated in flies and targeted gene disruptions may not be far off.