ABSTRACT
Abstract rosophila melanogaster is a developmentally and genetically highly tractable animal model and many significant advances in the field of signal transduction have been made and elucidated in this system. One example is the JAK/STAT cascade-a pathway conserved
throughout evolution and present as a complete* canonical pathway in the fly. Studies of pathway mutations, their roles in developmental processes and screens to identify novel pathway regulating loci have identified striking parallels between Drosophila and more complex vertebrate systems. Here we review the major functions of JAK/STAT pathway signalling in Drosophila and examine recent developments likely to lead the field over the coming years.
