Proboscis of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The fruit fly is considered a model organism as it is widely studied, able to reproduce rapidly, easy to maintain in a laboratory and has a genetic system that is well understood. The fruit fly has been used for over a century to study a range of biological processes including genetics, embryonic development, physiology and pathology. The proboscis is an elongated, tubular, flexible sucking mouthpart. Although they can only suck liquefied or tiny pieces of food up through the proboscis, flies are able to eat solid food by vomiting up digestive juices from their stomach onto the food. These stomach juices break the solid food down into small pieces which the fly is then able to suck up through its proboscis. Magnification: x400 when printed at 10cm wide | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Anne Weston, EM STP, the Francis Crick Institute |
Taille de l’image : | 3049 px × 4075 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : |
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