The primary goal of the DGRP is to provide a common set of strain for quantitative genetics research in Drosophila.
Currently, dozens of quantitative traits are being examined by researchers, including longevity, phototaxis, mating behavior, wing morphology and oviposition site preference.
The pilot proof of concept and development of the DGRP came from the Trudy Mackay lab in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The preliminary sequence data can be obtained from a public database hosted by Baylor College of Medicine in the Texas Medical Center.
Recently published data indicates that the interaction between a fly's genome and its environment plays a substantial role in determining the phenotype.