Harvard cuts threaten a giant in the research community: A fruit fly database
6 hours ago
- #genetics
- #biomedical research
- #funding crisis
- Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) have been crucial for scientific breakthroughs, including understanding genetic mutations, gene inheritance, and circadian rhythms.
- FlyBase, a key online database with 90,000 studies, aids researchers in designing experiments for disease causes and treatment development.
- Funding cuts by the Trump administration to Harvard University threaten FlyBase's future, impacting over 4,000 labs worldwide.
- FlyBase is crowdfunding to sustain operations, having already laid off staff, with more layoffs planned.
- The database is part of a larger effort to merge with the Alliance of Genome Resources, but funding disruptions pose challenges.
- Fruit flies share 60% of genes with humans, making them vital for biomedical research.
- The loss of FlyBase could hinder research efficiency and delay discoveries in human health.