UA Science Cafe at SaddleBrooke: Come fly with us – what simple models can teach us about human biology and disease

 Fruit flies can be annoying little flyers buzzing around your kitchen table when you forget those bananas out! But what you may not know about the tiny fruit fly is that for over 100 years it has been a workhorse for understanding fundamental facts about human biology and disease. Like humans, fruit flies have a brain, can learn, sleep, drink and get addicted, and are providing a great model for studying age and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. They have even helped discover drug therapies for cancer! We will cover the history of major genetic discoveries that led to several Nobel prizes and discuss some of the ways in which flies can help us understand disease mechanisms and develop therapies for humans in a “fly-to-man” approach.

November 7, 2019 - 3:44pm
Event Location: 
SaddleBrooke DesertView Performing Arts Center:39900 S Clubhouse Dr, Tucson, AZ 85739
Event Type: 
Event