Researchers led by brain scientist Professor Thomas Nowotny of the University of Sussex reported evidence of a fruit fly’s ability to detect and distinguish various chemicals –bringing scientists closer to developing new technology for detecting hazardous materials like bombs and drugs.
Nowotny alongside researchers from Monash University and CSIRO in Australia were surprised to discover the fruit flies’ ability to identify odors that are far removed from their usual activity with a high degree of accuracy. In their experiment, Professor Nowotny and collaborators studied how 20 different receptor neurons in fruit flies responded to two different sets of chemicals: The ‘wine set’ comprising 36 chemicals, and the ‘industrial set’ consisting of 35 chemicals related to hazardous materials like those found in drugs, combustion products, and the headspace of explosives. Then they monitored the ‘firing rate’ of each neuron in order to find out which chemicals elicited the most reaction from the flies. This data was then fed into a computer program that simulated the part of the fly’s brain used for odor recognition.
Data showed that 29 out of the 36 compounds in the wine set elicited clear excitatory responses in at least one of the 20 receptor neurons. Expecting otherwise, the researchers found that the flies also responded to 21 out of the 35 substances related to drugs and explosives in the industry set.
Published in the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, the results of the study brings scientists closer to developing electronics noses (e-nose) that functions as closely as the olfactory sense of animals. The current commercially available e-noses consist of metal-oxide sensors, and are very slow compared to biological nose. The study also helps scientists eliminate the need to recreate entire animal noses to sniff out materials. Researchers think that five to ten olfactory sensors work just as efficiently as the whole bunch, which could number 30++ in the fruit flies and over a hundred among dogs.
Professor Nowotny also cites other possible ways where this study can be utilized such as measuring food quality, monitoring the environment, analyzing breath (health), detecting pests (agriculture), monitoring volcanoes, and making wines.
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That is a great news if ever this study can be really pursued and proven to be true. At least, measuring food quality, monitoring the environment, analyzing breath (health), detecting pests (agriculture), monitoring volcanoes, and making wines.
It will make detection easier, thus making our places a safer place to live in.
I hope soon, this study could be finalized soon so gadgets or machines with regards to the detection of the above will now be easier and faster.