Taking Wing

Dramatic events in biology often inspire designs that mimic life. Here young fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) deploy their wings for the first time in a cross between an explosion and careful origami-like unfolding – a little like pop-up tents (although 1000 times smaller). The unfurling is propelled by a release of pressure and rush of fly blood called haemolymph into the new wings. Biotechnologists study the explosive release in both female (top row) and male (bottom) flies, using several imaging techniques while exploring the wings’ kinematics – their moving geometry – using computational modelling. These studies may shed some light on how tissues emerge on different time scales: in flies and genetically similar organisms, like humans. The miniature mechanics involved may also influence the design of soft robots able to quickly remodel themselves, perhaps during intricate medical procedures.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Video from work by Simon Hadjaje and colleagues
• Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, IBDM & Turing Centre for Living Systems (CENTURI), Marseille, France
• Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in Nature Communications, December 2024