Drosophila Fruit Fly Earrings

These earrings are inspired by Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly. Drosophila is a model organism with a short generation time that produces a lot of offspring, an ideal combination for genetic research. Although you might think that the fruit fly is very different from the human animal, in reality, 50% of fly proteins have a direct homolog in the human genome. Drosophila is being used to study several neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's as well as mechanisms in more common human diseases like cancer and diabetes.

The fly is 1.8cm (0.71 inches) in length below the loop and each earring weighs 3.5 g.

The earrings are 3D printed in solid sterling silver or 14K gold plated brass and then finished with sterling silver or gold plated silver hooks to match. All earring hooks are nickel-free. The earrings are ready for gift giving with a gift box, polishing cloth, and care instructions.

Due to the intricate details on this particular design, the earrings are polished only gently. The finish on the earrings may range from more textured to slightly more shiny.

To learn more about fruit flies and sugar, check out this blog post: Sugar Fly Honey Bunch: How Sweet Things Mess with a Fly's Brain