House fly’s genome hints at detox genes

Compared to a fruit fly, the house fly appears to have extra genes that may help it detoxify and decompose animal waste.

Sequencing the genome of the house fly Musca domestica and comparing it to the genome of Drosophila melanogaster revealed nearly 160 extra genetic components in the house fly that hint at enhanced detox action. M. domestica also appears to have a broader stock of chemical signals and proteins for smell and taste, researchers report October 14 in Genome Biology.

Studying the house fly’s 691 million base pairs could lead to more effective insecticides and a better understanding of insecticide resistance, the team writes.