Fruit Flies Break Law

Indiana University (IU) houses the world's most comprehensive repository for mutant fruit fly strains beloved by genetic researchers.

As such, IU sends vials of live flies, their eggs, or larvae to overseas scientists in nearly 200 countries.

Except that such mailings are completely illegal, according to an international postal agreement among 190 participating nations.

The pact forbids mailing most live insects, including fruit flies (pictured in a vial, below).

Yet in 2003, IU mailed nearly 125,000 samples of fruit flies, about 43,000 to overseas labs.

After months of effort and lobbying by the U.S. Postal Service and State Department, the Universal Postal Union will consider this month a proposal to accelerate a change in the law to allow the mailing of live fruit flies.