Remote-Controlled Flies

Rollie Hawk writes "This could be a huge development for the ultra-lazy (and ultra-stinky, for that matter). It seems that Yale scientists have managed to engineer a remote control system for flies. According to their study (recently featured in Cell), specific neurons can be stimulated by lasers to control basic functions in fruit flies such as jumping, walking, and flying. The study, of course, was performed with wider ranging applications in mind than bringing new meaning to the saying, "Shew, fly!" The overall goal was to determine whether isolated-neuron stimulation could be used to control basic motor activities and even more complex behavior. Everyone since the days of Mary Shelly has obviously known that there are connections between electrical current and muscle movement. What makes this study unique is that it does not use traditional electrodes, which lack the single-neuron specificity of lasers. Eventually, this could lead to mappings that will give humans knowledge and possibly control over not only complex movements but less-than desirable mental functions such as aggression and overeating."

Comments

Re:gg evil-mart

[jaoswald]

Yeah, but you forgot the part about genetically altering the customers so that specific neurons fire in the presence of ATP, then injecting them with ATP "caged" in molecules that require a UV pulse to unlock.

This is completely inapplicable for commercial influence, you clueless slashbot. It is a very clever *laboratory technique* for causing impulses in specific neurons of test animals without implanting electrodes.

Get a clue.