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Fly hearts are unrelated to mammal hearts. Flies belong to a completely different phylum. Pretty much everything about the organs of flies is different to human
by wbhart 12y ago
Fly hearts are unrelated to mammal hearts. Flies belong to a completely different phylum. Pretty much everything about the organs of flies is different to humans. They don't have lungs, they don't have a brain, but a cerebral ganglion, they don't have a full stomach, but a stomodaeum, etc. More importantly, they don't have oxygen rich blood or red blood cells. I realise that flies are often used for genetic studies that have implications for humans, but I very much doubt this study says anything much about human heart health.
- brobdingnagian 12y agoThey are analogous, and an analogy is what we're after.
- IndianAstronaut 12y agoThere are things we can do with flies that we simply cannot do with humans. Doing the research in flies is often a way for us to get an idea of how things may work in humans and others. Also, while we are physiologically different, we have quite a bit in common at the cellular level.
- tobylane 12y agoThe trade-off of relevance to humans, and short generations (a day) seems to be best with fruit flies. I'm sure scientists have worked out what areas of research have worthwhile comparisons with mammals.