Drosophila Melanogaster
I support President Boren’s decision to add a statue of drosophila melanogaster to the OU grounds. Drosophila Melanogaster, more commonly known as the fruit fly, is one of the most widely studied organisms in biology, and it played a significant role in our studies that heavily contributed to our current theory of genetics. The fruit fly’s short life span and large birthing rates allowed for relatively easier studies to be conducted across generations of flies, thus allowing scientists to physically see genetic mutations as they emerge. These characteristics paved the way for many advancements in fields such as biology, genetics, and medicine that we take for granted today.