What do Men and Fruit Flies Have in Common

Fact Men and Fruit Flies share the same sexual gene structure, an interesting comparison that will answer many of the mysteries of male behaviour.

But back to the serious side of sex: In studies carried out by a team of scientists at Oregon State University, published in Current Biology, the scientists have increased the sexual stamina of male fruit flies.

The researchers increased the performance of the male fruit flies by removing two genes that control the body clock, they report says.

Here is were the comparison between Men and Fruit Flies comes in, the same genes are found in people it should shed light on variations in the sexual performance of men.

The genes representing vital components of the 24-hour circadian clock somehow also influence sexual stamina in the fruit fly Drosophila, it shows that although these genes rule the day/night sleep/wake cycle they can also influence much shorter time scale behaviour in this instance, mating.

Researchers Laura Beaver and Prof Jaga Giebultowicz found that male flies lacking one of two circadian clock genes, called "period" and "timeless", could copulate for up to half as long again as the usual 15 minutes, particularly in the morning

Females did not seem to benefit from the genetic change it is the males that determine how long to mate, said Prof Giebultowicz.