Modeling human neurodegenerative diseases in Drosophila - on a wing and a prayer

The ability of Drosophila genetics to reveal new insights into human neurod egenerative disease is highlighted not only by mutants in flies that show n euronal cell loss, but also by targeted expression of human disease genes i n the fly. Moreover, study of Drosophila homologs of various human disease genes provides new insight into fundamental aspects of protein function. Th ese recent findings confirm the remarkable homology of gene function in fli es when compared with humans. With the advent of complete genomic sequencin g on the horizon, Drosophila will continue to be an outstanding model syste m in which to unravel the complexities, causes and treatments for human neu ral degeneration.