Drosophila melanogaster model for transgenerational toxicology: Epigenetic and Hormonal Mechanisms in Post-Embryonic Development

Drosophila melanogaster, a widely used model organism in biology, offers a good platform to study the transgenerational effects of environmental toxicants and pharmaceuticals. Offspring phenotypes are not solely shaped by inherited DNA but also by parental environmental exposures. In this review, we explore how juvenile hormone and ecdysone (key endocrine regulators of insect development) serve as molecular entry points for toxicant-induced epigenetic changes. We detailed how mechanisms such as DNA/RNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNAs, chromatin remodeling, and RNA methylation, modulate these hormonal pathways and how they can be inherited across generations. The fly’s short lifecycle, conservation with mammalian systems, and minimal ethical constraints make it ideal for screening developmental and transgenerational toxicities. Leveraging this model can help inform drug development, risk assessment, and public health policy.