Review--how fly research has and can continue to contribute to understanding intellectual disability

van der Voet M, Nijhof B, Oortveld MA, Schenck A. Drosophila models of early onset cognitive disorders and their clinical applications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2014 Oct;46 Pt 2:326-42. PMID: 24661984.

From the abstract: "... For the extremely large, genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous group of intellectual disability (ID) disorders, more than 600 causative genes have been identified to date. However, knowledge about the molecular mechanisms and networks disrupted by these genetic aberrations is lagging behind. The fruit fly Drosophila has emerged as a powerful model organism to close this knowledge gap. This review summarizes recent achievements that have been made in this model and envisions its future contribution to our understanding of ID genetics and neuropathology. ... In conclusion, Drosophila provides many opportunities to advance future medical genomics of early onset cognitive disorders."