ABSTRACT
146The Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC) collects, maintains, and distributes genetically defined strains of Drosophila melanogaster for research and education. Over the past 32 years, the BDSC collection has grown to contain over 70,000 stocks, and in 2017 distributed more than 218,000 subcultures to ~2900 users at 982 institutions in 51 countries. The BDSC maintains and distributes only a single species, Drosophila melanogaster; therefore, the major focus of the program is not preservation of multiple species or genetic diversity per se, but, rather, preservation of genetic components. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the history, management practices, and research efforts of the BDSC.
