Editing Fly (section)

=== Uses ===
[[File:Researcher beside Vials closed by cotton plugs and filled with Fruit fly larvae.jpg|thumb|left|Diptera in research: ''[[Drosophila melanogaster]]'' fruit fly larvae being bred in tubes in a [[genetics]] laboratory]]

''[[Drosophila melanogaster]]'', a fruit fly, has long been used as a [[model organism]] in research because of the ease with which it can be bred and reared in the laboratory, its small [[genome]], and the fact that many of its genes have counterparts in higher [[eukaryote]]s. A large number of genetic studies have been undertaken based on this species; these have had a profound impact on the study of [[gene expression]], [[Regulation of gene expression|gene regulatory mechanisms]] and [[mutation]]. Other studies have investigated [[physiology]], [[Pathogenesis|microbial pathogenesis]] and development among other research topics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yourgenome.org/theme/fruit-flies-in-the-laboratory/ |title=Fruit flies in the laboratory |date=19 June 2015 |website=YourGenome |access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref> The studies on dipteran relationships by [[Willi Hennig]] helped in the development of [[cladistics]], techniques that he applied to morphological characters but now adapted for use with molecular sequences in phylogenetics.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ashlock |first=P. D. |date=1974 |title=The Uses of Cladistics |journal=Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=81–99 |doi=10.1146/annurev.es.05.110174.000501}}</ref>

[[Maggot]]s found on corpses are useful to [[forensic entomology|forensic entomologists]]. Maggot species can be identified by their anatomical features and by matching their [[DNA]]. Maggots of different species of flies visit corpses and carcases at fairly well-defined times after the death of the victim, and so do their predators, such as beetles in the family [[Histeridae]]. Thus, the presence or absence of particular species provides evidence for the time since death, and sometimes other details such as the place of death, when species are confined to particular habitats such as [[woodland]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Joseph |first1=Isaac |last2=Mathew |first2=Deepu G. |last3=Sathyan |first3=Pradeesh |last4=Vargheese |first4=Geetha |title=The use of insects in forensic investigations: An overview on the scope of forensic entomology |journal=Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences |date=2011 |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=89–91 |doi=10.4103/0975-1475.92154 |pmc=3296382 |pmid=22408328 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[File:Casu Marzu cheese.jpg|thumb|right|[[Casu marzu]] is a traditional [[Sardinia]]n sheep milk cheese that contains larvae of the [[cheese fly]], ''Piophila casei''.]]

Some species of maggots such as [[Calliphoridae|blowfly larvae (gentles)]] and bluebottle larvae ([[caster (maggot)|casters]]) are bred commercially; they are sold as [[fishing bait|bait]] in [[angling]], and as food for carnivorous animals (kept as pets, in zoos, or for research) such as some [[mammal]]s,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ogunleye |first1=R. F. |last2=Edward |first2=J. B. |title=Roasted maggots (Dipteran larvae) as a dietary protein source for laboratory animals |journal=African Journal of Applied Zoology and Environmental Biology |date=2005 |volume=7 |pages=140–143 |url=http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajazeb/article/view/41163}}</ref> [[fish]]es, [[reptile]]s, and [[bird]]s. It has been suggested that fly larvae could be used at a large scale as food for farmed chickens, pigs, and fish. However, consumers are opposed to the inclusion of insects in their food, and the use of insects in animal feed remains illegal in areas such as the [[European Union]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Nic |title=How insects could feed the food industry of tomorrow |url=http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140603-are-maggots-the-future-of-food |publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=24 May 2016 |date=4 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Why are insects not allowed in animal feed? |url=http://www.protix.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/20141029_Why-are-insects-not-allowed-in-animal-feed_Whitepaper_Insect_meal.pdf |publisher=All About Feed |access-date=24 May 2016 |date=August 2014 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811001146/http://www.protix.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/20141029_Why-are-insects-not-allowed-in-animal-feed_Whitepaper_Insect_meal.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 

Fly larvae can be used as a [[biomedical]] tool for wound care and treatment. [[Maggot debridement therapy]] (MDT) is the use of [[Calliphoridae|blow fly]] larvae to remove the dead tissue from wounds, most commonly being amputations. Historically, this has been used for centuries, both intentional and unintentional, on battlefields and in early hospital settings.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stegman |first1=Sylvia |last2=Steenvoorde |first2=Pascal |date=2011 |title=Maggot debridement therapy |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260701991 |journal=Proceedings of the Netherlands Entomological Society Meeting |volume=22 |pages=61–66 }}</ref> Removing the dead tissue promotes cell growth and healthy wound healing. The larvae also have [[biochemical]] properties such as [[antibacterial]] activity found in their secretions as they feed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Diaz-Roa |first1=A. |last2=Gaona |first2=M. A. |last3=Segura |first3=N. A. |last4=Suárez |first4=D. |last5=Patarroyo |first5=M.A. |last6=Bello |first6=F. J. |date=August 2014 |title=''Sarconesiopsis magellanica'' (Diptera: Calliphoridae) excretions and secretions have potent antibacterial activity |journal=Acta Tropica |pages=37–43 |doi=10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.04.018 |pmid=24754920 |volume=136}}</ref> These medicinal maggots are a safe and effective treatment for chronic wounds.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gilead |first1=L. |last2=Mumcuoglu |first2=K. Y. |last3=Ingber |first3=A. |date=16 August 2013 |title=The use of maggot debridement therapy in the treatment of chronic wounds in hospitalised and ambulatory patients |journal=Journal of Wound Care |doi=10.12968/jowc.2012.21.2.78 |pmid=22584527 |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=78–85}}</ref>

The [[Sardinia]]n cheese [[casu marzu]] is exposed to flies known as [[cheese skipper]]s such as ''[[Piophila casei]]'', members of the family [[Piophilidae]].<ref>{{cite journal |year=2007 |title=A mite unappetizing |url=http://www.entsoc.org/PDF/Pubs/Periodicals/AE/AE-2007/Fall/Buzzwords.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216084837/http://entsoc.org/PDF/Pubs/Periodicals/AE/AE-2007/Fall/Buzzwords.pdf |url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-12-16 |journal=American Entomologist |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=132–133 |last=Berenbaum |first=May |doi=10.1093/ae/53.3.132 }}</ref> The digestive activities of the fly larvae soften the cheese and modify the aroma as part of the process of maturation. At one time European Union authorities banned sale of the cheese and it was becoming hard to find,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Colangelo |first1=Matt |title=A Desperate Search for Casu Marzu, Sardinia's Illegal Maggot Cheese |url=http://www.foodandwine.com/fwx/desperate-search-casu-marzu-sardinias-illegal-maggot-cheese |publisher=Food and Wine |access-date=24 May 2016 |date=9 October 2015}}</ref> but the ban has been lifted on the grounds that the cheese is a traditional local product made by traditional methods.<ref>{{cite news |title=Illegal food: step away from the cheese, ma'am |last=Brones |first=Anna |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/apr/15/illegal-food-cheese-us-mimolette |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=15 April 2013 |access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref>