Thomas Hunt Morgan studied genetics using fruit flies primarily because they produce large numbers of offspring.

• A. They produce large numbers of offspring
• B. They do not reproduce in the lab
• C. They have a short lifespan that makes study difficult
• D. Their genome is identical to humans

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that having a large number of offspring lets geneticists observe how traits segregate and recombine with good statistical confidence. Thomas Hunt Morgan chose fruit flies because a single mating can produce many progeny, giving a sizable sample to track inheritance across generations. With such large numbers, Mendelian ratios become clear, rare recombination events can be detected, and researchers can map genes by analyzing how traits co-segregate in many offspring.

While fruit flies do reproduce in the lab and have other practical advantages (like a short generation time and easy care), the reason this organism was so valuable is the sheer number of offspring it yields, which makes genetic analysis robust and efficient. The statement that their genome is identical to humans isn’t true, and their short lifespan actually helps researchers by speeding up experiments rather than hindering them.