Drosophila pseudoobscura

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/drosophila-pseudoobscura

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Drosophila pseudoobscura?Adults typically measure between 3 to 4 millimeters in length
2. What is the scientific name?Drosophila pseudoobscura
3. What is the diet?Omnivore; primarily consumes fermenting fruits and other decaying organic matter
4. What is Drosophila pseudoobscura and where does it live?It is a tiny fruit fly about 3-4 millimeters long that lives in western North America, from forests to dry scrublands, where it feeds on fermenting fruit.
5. Why do scientists study this fly?Because it is easy to breed in the lab and its genome was fully mapped, making it a great model for learning about genetics and how new species form.

Model Organism: A non-human species extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena.
Allopatric Speciation: The evolutionary divergence of populations that are geographically isolated, leading to the formation of new species.
Reproductive Isolation: The inability of a species to breed successfully with related species due to geographical, behavioral, physiological, or genetic barriers.