Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Adv Physiol Educ. 2011 Dec;35(4):384-92. doi: 10.1152/advan.00045.2011.
Invertebrate model organisms are powerful systems for uncovering conserved principles of animal biology. Despite widespread use in scientific communities, invertebrate research is often severely undervalued by laypeople. Here, we present a set of simple, inexpensive public outreach exercises aimed at explaining to the public why basic research on one particular invertebrate, the insect Drosophila melanogaster, is valuable. First, we designed seven teaching modules that highlight cutting-edge research in Drosophila genetics, metabolism, physiology, and behavior. We then implemented these exercises in a public outreach event that included both children and adults. Quantitative evaluation of participant feedback suggests that these exercises 1) teach principles of animal biology, 2) help laypeople better understand why researchers study fruit flies, and 3) are effective over a wide range of age groups. Overall, this work provides a blueprint for how to use Drosophila as a vehicle for increasing public awareness and appreciation of basic research on genetically tractable insects in particular and invertebrates in general.
无脊椎动物模式生物是揭示动物生物学保守原理的强大系统。尽管在科学界得到了广泛应用，但无脊椎动物研究经常被外行人严重低估。在这里，我们提出了一系列简单、廉价的公众宣传活动，旨在向公众解释为什么对一种特定的无脊椎动物——昆虫黑腹果蝇进行基础研究是有价值的。首先，我们设计了七个教学模块，强调了果蝇遗传学、新陈代谢、生理学和行为方面的前沿研究。然后，我们在一个包括儿童和成人的公众宣传活动中实施了这些练习。对参与者反馈的定量评估表明，这些练习 1）教授动物生物学原理，2）帮助外行人更好地理解为什么研究人员研究果蝇，3）在广泛的年龄组中都很有效。总的来说，这项工作为如何利用果蝇作为增加公众对特别是遗传上易于研究的昆虫和无脊椎动物的基础研究的认识和欣赏提供了蓝图。
