Register for the EMBL Insight Lecture 2026
“Tiny Flies, Big Questions: From Genetics to Environmental Change”
The EMBL Insight Lecture 2026 will be presented by Dr. Justin Crocker, Group Leader at EMBL Heidelberg, on 27 November 2026, 10:30-12:00 CET.
Most of us know fruit flies as slightly annoying tiny flies we sometimes find in our kitchens. However, they are also very important model organisms in biology. Nearly 50 years ago, large-scale mutagenesis screens at EMBL, used fruit flies to uncover fundamental genetic principles of animal development. Today, scientists are using the same powerful experimental system to ask a different question: how do environmental chemicals affect living organisms?
In the EMBL Insight Lecture 2026, Dr. Justin Crocker will explore how he and his team combine classical genetics with automated imaging and behavioural analysis to reveal the often-hidden effects of chemical exposure on insects. Their recent work shows that many chemicals alter the behaviour of insects and affect their population dynamics without killing them, and that these effects can be amplified by warmer temperatures and chemical mixtures. Justin will also discuss how these approaches can be extended to mosquitoes, where insecticide exposure can unexpectedly alter behaviours relevant to disease transmission. Together, these studies highlight how studying whole organisms can help us understand life in our rapidly changing world.
