Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, is in some ways a simple creature. But in others it is so complex that, as with any form of life, we are only scratching the surface of understanding it.

The new virtual fly is the most realistic simulation of a fruit fly created to date. It combines a new anatomically accurate model of the fly's outer skeleton, a fast physics simulator, and an ...

Like the lunar landing, the mapping of the familiar fruit fly in 2024—bane of humid groceries and kitchen cringe—represents a major accomplishment. Other creatures have been mapped, but Mr. Fly is so ...