EBS ‘Science as a Hobby’ 100th Episode, The History of Genetics Seen Through Fruit Flies... September 11 at 10:50 PM

100th Special! How did a tiny fruit fly save humanity?

EBS Episode 100: ‘How Much Has the Fruit Fly Contributed to Humanity?’

- Finding the secrets of inheritance in mutant fruit flies?! The reason Morgan focused on fruit flies - An undergraduate student created the first gene map? Morgan's genius student Sturtevant - Legs growing from the head?! The secrets of genes revealed by ultimate mutations - The real reason the 100th episode theme is ‘Fruit Fly’? One person leaving

* Broadcast Date/Time: Friday, September 11, 2026, at 10:50 PM, EBS 1TV

It is time to meet the massive scientific legacy left to humanity by tiny fruit flies! EBS Episode 100, ‘How Much Has the Fruit Fly Contributed to Humanity?’, will air on EBS 1TV on Friday, September 11, at 10:50 PM. In the 100th episode, MC Defconn meets Professor Lee Dae-han from the Department of Biological Sciences at Sungkyunkwan University, Professor Jang Hong-je from the Department of Chemistry at Kwangwoon University, and science communicator Hang-seong to meet Professor Shim Ji-won from the School of Biological Sciences at Seoul National University to delve into the amazing activities of the fruit fly, a tiny organism that changed the history of genetics.

“How can we solve the secrets of genes with this tiny fruit fly?” In response to Defconn's question, Professor Lee Dae-han brings up ‘mutation,’ which is the core of fruit fly research. Fruit flies, which have short generations and produce many offspring, are model organisms advantageous for observing inheritance phenomena. In particular, by tracking conspicuous mutations such as eye color or wing shape, it was possible to reveal how certain traits are inherited. The tiny fruit fly began to overturn the history of 20th-century genetics.

At the center of this were Thomas Morgan, who opened a new chapter in genetics through fruit fly research, and his students. Among them, Sturtevant, who was an undergraduate student, created the first gene map by calculating the relative positions between genes based on fruit fly genetic research results. In an era when even the physical reality of genes was not properly revealed, he drew the positions of genes like a map! Due to the appearance of the genius student, it is said that a joke even emerged saying, “Morgan's greatest achievement was discovering Sturtevant.” The amazing history of genetics starting from a single fruit fly unfolds.

Meanwhile, extraordinary mutations, from ‘Antennapedia’ where legs grow from the head to fruit flies with various types of eyes, appear in the studio. These small changes, which may seem bizarre at first glance, became important clues to revealing the principles of how genes build the body and regulate biological phenomena. Furthermore, fruit fly research has extended to understanding human development and diseases. We follow the amazing journey of how the tiny and seemingly insignificant fruit fly became a representative model organism of modern life science.

And there is a special reason why , reaching its 100th episode, chose ‘Fruit Fly’ among numerous scientific topics. It is said that the cast could not hide their disappointment at the unexpected news delivered during the celebration of the 100th episode. Who, indeed, is the protagonist facing farewell with ?

From the massive scientific legacy left to humanity by tiny fruit flies to the special story of reaching its 100th episode! EBS Episode 100, ‘How Much Has the Fruit Fly Contributed to Humanity?’, will be broadcast on EBS 1TV on Friday, September 11, at 10:50 PM.

* Related photos are available on the EBS institutional website (about.ebs.co.kr)-Cyber PR Office-Highlight, on the corresponding broadcast date.

◆ At a Glance

· Publishing Institution: EBS

· Category: Science as a Hobby

· Distribution: September 10

Source: EBS Press Release

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