Comparison of Muscle Development in Drosophila and Vertebrates

Abstract

There are many fundamental similarities in the biology of Drosophila and vertebrates, and Drosophila has become a prominent model organism for studies of animal development. Here the development of the different vertebrate muscle types (skeletal, cardiac and smooth) is compared with their anatomical counterparts in Drosophila (somatic, heart/cardiac and visceral). The similarities are highlighted and attention is drawn to any differences. The chapter emphasizes, in particular, the impact of Drosophila on the genetic analysis of muscle development. The body of research covered herein also allows an assessment of the extent of the similarity between different aspects of Drosophila and vertebrate muscle development. One outcome of this is an evaluation of the usefulness of Drosophila to inform a variety of studies of clinical significance.