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Different genes, same result: How flies evolved multiple ways to define heads and tails

Phys · · 884 words · By University
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What to know about Different genes, same result: How flies evolved multiple ways to define heads and tails

Researchers from the University of Chicago have studied how different fly species, specifically the moth fly, use various genes to establish the head-to-tail axis during embryonic development. The study highlights 'developmental system drift,' where different genetic mechanisms achieve the same biological outcome across species.

Propaganda risk 0%
Claims checked 13
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center75%
Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Different genes, same result: How flies evolved multiple ways to define heads and tails Sadie Harley Scientific Editor Robert Egan Senior Editor One of the most important milestones in the early life of an organism is when the embryo breaks symmetry and…

Why it matters

Scientists have used the common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) for decades as a model species to study the process of forming the anterior-posterior body axis, along with countless other early developmental and genetic processes.

Common ground

In fruit flies, a gene called bicoid controls this process.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Researchers from the University of Chicago have studied how different fly species, specifically the moth fly, use various genes to establish the head-to-tail axis during embryonic development. The study highlights 'developmental system drift,' where different genetic mechanisms achieve the same biological outcome across species.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genes-result-flies-evolved-multiple.html

analyticsAnalysis

0%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
schedule Pending 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info Single Source 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
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Claim 1: “in 2019, Urs Schmidt-Ott, Ph.D., professor of organismal biology and anatomy at the University of Chicago, and his team discovered three unrelated and more widely conserved genes that adopted the same job in other fly species.”
CORROBORATED
The claim is supported by multiple sources, including a UChicago Medicine report and the Schmidt-Ott Lab page, confirming the 2019 discovery of conserved genes specifying the axis in flies lacking bicoid.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1983 LEN European Aquatics Championships took place at the Stadio Olimpico del Nuoto in Rome, Italy, between 22 August and 27 August 1983. East Germany won all women's events in the swimming compe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_European_Aquatics_Champio…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a breakdown of the results of the 2025 German federal election. The following tables display detailed results in each of the sixteen states and all 299 single-member constituencies. Due to sev…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Results_of_the_2025_German_fed…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A segmentation gene is a gene involved in the early developmental stages of pattern formation. It regulates how cells are organized and defines repeated units in the embryo. Segmentation genes have be…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segmentation_gene
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 2: “moth flies start developing the head by activating two different genes called homeobrain and sloppy-paired.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 3: “In fruit flies, a gene called bicoid controls this process.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources explicitly state that the bicoid gene controls the anterior-posterior axis formation in fruit flies.
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web search NEUTRAL — In fruit flies, a gene called bicoid controls this process.In both moth fly and fruit fly embryos, expression of the odd-paired gene ensures that the correct number of body segments form as the larval…
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genes-result-flies-evolved-mul…
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web search NEUTRAL — In fruit flies, a gene called bicoid controls this process.Fruit flies and moth flies both break symmetry by managing chromatin accessibility in regions of the genome that promote the expression of ge…
https://www.azolifesciences.com/news/20260807/Fruit-Fly-Gene…
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web search NEUTRAL — Bicoid is one of the main determinants of positions along the anterior-posterior axis of the embryo.Creating flies with different Bicoid dosages. There are multiple ways of varying the amount of Bicoi…
https://www.rpgroup.caltech.edu/mbl_physiology/code/Cephalic…
schedule
Claim 4: “There are 150,000 described fly species out there”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 5: “While bicoid has dozens of direct target genes (the earliest and best studied is one called hunchback)”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the specific target genes of bicoid, such as hunchback.
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Claim 6: “In both moth fly and fruit fly embryos, expression of the odd-paired gene ensures that the correct number of body segments form as the larval body plan develops.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that the odd-paired gene regulates the number of body segments in both moth flies and fruit flies.
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web search NEUTRAL — In both moth fly and fruit fly embryos, expression of the odd-paired gene ensures that the correct number of body segments form as the larval body plan develops.
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genes-result-flies-evolved-mul…
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web search NEUTRAL — In both moth flies and fruit flies, it helps regulate the formation of the correct number of body segments later in embryonic development. However, moth fly females also activate a distinct odd-paired…
https://scienmag.com/fruit-flies-evolved-distinct-genetic-ro…
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web search NEUTRAL — On the pressure developed in a liquid during the collapse of a spherical cavity.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1478644080863568…
info
Claim 7: “moth fly mothers also express odd-paired earlier, during formation of the egg.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific detail that moth fly females activate a distinct odd-paired transcript during egg formation is mentioned in one source. Other results for this claim were general information about moths.
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web search NEUTRAL — There are approximately 160,000 species of moth, [2] many of which have yet to be described. Most species of moth are nocturnal, although there are also crepuscular and diurnal species. Moths have a m…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moth
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web search NEUTRAL — Moths are insects of the order Lepidoptera. They are closely related to butterflies, which evolved from them. They also have wings, just like butterflies. Most species of moths are active only at nigh…
https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moth
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 25, 2026 · Like butterflies, moths are holometabolous insects that undergo complete metamorphosis through four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. As adults, most species f…
https://animalfact.com/moth/
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Claim 8: “Both bicoid and odd-paired affect chromatin accessibility in the genome”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm or deny the effect of bicoid and odd-paired on chromatin accessibility.
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Claim 9: “they examined the mechanism by which a gene called odd-paired establishes the head-to-tail axis in a moth fly, Clogmia albipunctata.”
CORROBORATED
Both a PLOS Biology study summary and an NCBI BioProject entry confirm that the odd-paired gene establishes the head-to-tail axis in Clogmia albipunctata.
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web search NEUTRAL — Clogmia albipunctata is a species of drain fly, a member of the family Psychodidae commonly known as the bathroom moth midge, bathroom moth fly or drain fly.The species name, albipunctata, means "whit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clogmia_albipunctata
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web search NEUTRAL — In a new study published in PLOS Biology, they examined the mechanism by which a gene called odd-paired establishes the head-to-tail axis in a moth fly, Clogmia albipunctata. Also known as a drain fly…
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genes-result-flies-evolved-mul…
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web search NEUTRAL — Clogmia albipunctata. Evolution of an Embryonic Axis Determinant via Alternative Transcription.Here, we show that a conserved Zic family segmentation gene, odd-paired, evolved a separate function as t…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA454000
verified
Claim 10: “Clogmia albipunctata. Also known as a drain fly, this harmless species can be found in hot, moist environments such as sewer drains, plant pots or stuffy public restrooms in the summer.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other pest control sources confirm Clogmia albipunctata is the drain fly and inhabits moist environments like sewer drains and bathrooms.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Clogmia albipunctata is a species of drain fly, a member of the family Psychodidae commonly known as the bathroom moth midge, bathroom moth fly or drain fly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clogmia_albipunctata
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web search NEUTRAL — Common Drain Flies in California: Clogmia albipunctata — Common Drain Fly.Where do Clogmia albipunctata breed? Inside drains, pipes, and moist organic film found in bathrooms, kitchens, and floor drai…
https://pestcontrolcalifornia.us/pestopedia/drain-flies/comm…
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web search NEUTRAL — Common drain fly, Clogmia albipunctata.These flies occur naturally in shaded locations containing moist, decaying organic matter, such as wet wooded areas or swamps. They are also commonly associated …
https://uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/pest-management/insect/drai…
info
Claim 11: “This unique gene exists only in some fly species”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one relevant source ('Different genes, same result') mentions that the bicoid gene exists only in some fly species. The other search results for this claim were irrelevant adult forum posts.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Hello, New users on the forum won't be able to send PM untill certain criteria are met (you need to have at least 6 posts in any sub forum). One more important message - Do not answer to people preten…
https://forum.xnxx.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 12, 2009 · Anything related to texts and xnxx stories. Hello, You can now get verified on forum. The way it's gonna work is that you can send me a PM with a verification picture. The picture has t…
https://forum.xnxx.com/forums/sex-stories.6/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Általános társalgási fórumcsoport A Törzsasztal, Index kávéház, iNteRNeTTo, Iskolák, évszámok, horoszkópok, Metakazamata, Moderáció - Társalgási ...
https://forum.index.hu/Topic/showTopicList
schedule
Claim 12: “Ezra E. Amiri et al, Asymmetric chromatin accessibility underlies anterior-posterior axis specification in moth fly embryos, PLOS Biology (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003896”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 13: “Scientists have used the common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) for decades as a model species to study the process of forming the anterior-posterior body axis”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm that Drosophila melanogaster has been used for decades as a model organism to study the anterior-posterior body axis and other developmental processes.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Scientists have used the common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) for decades as a model species to study the process for forming the anterior-posterior body axis, along with countless other early d…
https://www.azolifesciences.com/news/20260819/Scientists-Dis…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most known and used organisms worldwide, not just. to study general biology problems but above all for modeling complex human diseases. During the decades, it has…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394366257_Drosophil…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Drosophila melanogaster is a widely used model organism to understand many molecular and developmental processes common to higher eukaryotes. A prerogative for a good model system is to share higher p…
https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/58858
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.