Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Remembrance of things past: Towards a life-course biology of aging.

PLoS biology·2026
Same author

Evolutionary genetics of ageing.

Nature reviews. Genetics·2026
Same author

Myeloablative Busulfan, Fludarabine and Melphalan Conditioning for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Childhood Myeloid Malignancy.

Asia-Pacific journal of clinical oncology·2026
Same author

CRISPR/Cas9 engineered and whole-genome characterized KIT D816V-mutant human iPSC lines.

Stem cell research·2026
Same author

Recent experience and internal state shape local search strategies in flies.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Dietary restriction in aging and longevity.

Nature aging·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Rearing the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster Under Axenic and Gnotobiotic Conditions
09:34

Rearing the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster Under Axenic and Gnotobiotic Conditions

Published on: July 30, 2016

21.5K

A holidic medium for Drosophila melanogaster.

Matthew D W Piper1, Eric Blanc2, Ricardo Leitão-Gonçalves3

  • 1Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK.

Nature Methods
|November 19, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a chemically defined (holidic) diet for Drosophila melanogaster, improving experimental consistency and nutrient availability. This new fly food supports development and extends lifespan, offering a reliable tool for genetic research.

More Related Videos

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons
06:49

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons

Published on: March 21, 2018

7.0K
Assay for Blood-brain Barrier Integrity in Drosophila melanogaster
09:08

Assay for Blood-brain Barrier Integrity in Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: September 18, 2019

7.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Rearing the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster Under Axenic and Gnotobiotic Conditions
09:34

Rearing the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster Under Axenic and Gnotobiotic Conditions

Published on: July 30, 2016

21.5K
Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons
06:49

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons

Published on: March 21, 2018

7.0K
Assay for Blood-brain Barrier Integrity in Drosophila melanogaster
09:08

Assay for Blood-brain Barrier Integrity in Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: September 18, 2019

7.8K

Area of Science:

  • * Entomology and Genetics
  • * Nutritional Biochemistry
  • * Model Organism Research

Background:

  • * Consistent and chemically defined diets are crucial for reproducible model organism research.
  • * A complete holidic diet for Drosophila melanogaster has been lacking.
  • * Existing oligidic diets have limitations in consistency and nutrient availability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To develop and validate a holidic diet for Drosophila melanogaster.
  • * To compare the performance of the holidic diet with existing oligidic diets.
  • * To investigate the effects of nutrients, drugs, and amino acid dilution on fly lifespan and behavior.

Main Methods:

  • * Development of a novel holidic medium for Drosophila melanogaster.
  • * Comparative experiments using holidic and oligidic diets over 7 years.
  • * Assessment of adult fecundity, lifespan, developmental rate, nutrient availability, and food-choice behavior.

Main Results:

  • * The holidic diet matches oligidic diet performance for adult fecundity and lifespan.
  • * The holidic diet supports multi-generational development, albeit at a slower rate.
  • * The holidic diet provides more consistent egg-laying outcomes and enhances nutrient/drug availability.
  • * Amino acid dilution in the holidic diet increases fly lifespan, mimicking dietary restriction.
  • * Folic acid from microbiota is sufficient for Drosophila development.

Conclusions:

  • * The developed holidic diet is a viable and consistent alternative to oligidic diets for Drosophila research.
  • * This diet enhances nutrient and drug bioavailability, leading to more reliable experimental results.
  • * The study provides insights into nutrient-specific effects on fly behavior and lifespan, highlighting the role of microbiota.