Fruit flies remember their larval diet, which influences their longevity

Researchers at RIKEN discovered that a protein in fruit flies records the yeast concentration of their larval diet, and this record persists into adulthood. When larvae were fed a low-protein diet—reducing yeast from 8% to 1–2% halfway through development—the resulting adults lived longer after returning to standard food. The study links early protein intake to adult longevity.