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A Genetically Engineered Fly That Can Smell Light

An anonymous reader writes "It sounds like a cool — if somewhat pointless — super-powered insect: a fly that can smell light! Researchers added a light-sensitive protein to a fruit fly's olfactory neurons, which caused the neurons to fire when the fly was exposed to a certain wavelength of blue light. Adding the protein specifically to neurons that respond to good smells, like bananas, makes for a light-seeking fly."

13 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. What a wasted opportunity by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They could've made them think a wavelength smells terrible and then sold fly repellant lightbulbs.

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    A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
    1. Re:What a wasted opportunity by Hazza64 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No, you see the trick is to get them attracted to light. THEN they will land on those inefficient 80W bulbs attempting to eat it and burn their 'mouths' and feet in the process.

    2. Re:What a wasted opportunity by amicusNYCL · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Right, and all they have to do is genetically engineer all the flies in the world, or at least every population of them.

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      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    3. Re:What a wasted opportunity by AK+Marc · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well? I'm waiting.

    4. Re:What a wasted opportunity by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's for favorable genes. I believe that, from the fly's point-of-view, believing that blue light is food (and potentially causing it to fly into a human-produced trap) would be all that favorable.

  2. IOW by aBaldrich · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In other words, it can see with its nose.

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    In soviet russia the government regulates the companies.
    1. Re:IOW by Kenshin · · Score: 5, Funny

      Next test subject: Toucan Sam.

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      Does it make you happy you're so strange?

  3. Great Work by Nuskrad · · Score: 5, Funny

    Great work guys. You just invented moths.

  4. Re:But can we wipe out pest bugs by making them... by Cryacin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Harry! Harry! Don't look into the light!!!

    I can't help it... it's sooo beautifull!!!!

    zzzzzzzzzttt

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    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  5. Great news by roman_mir · · Score: 3, Funny

    Finally, we have been able to achieve what we always needed: flies that can compete with human art critics.

    On the other hand these flies are not as advanced as Arizona lawmakers, who apparently can feel if one is an illegal alien by 'looking at brands of shoes' (incidentally, will this not force the cops to hire a disproportional number of gays into service?)

  6. Someone said it before ;) by Longjmp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana. heh.

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    There are fewer illiterates than people who can't read.
  7. New movie line by gyrogeerloose · · Score: 3, Funny

    "I love the smell of blue in the morning..."

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    This ain't rocket surgery.
  8. Re:I for one by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

    A fly that can smell light? Big deal.

    My wife says that my feet smell evil.

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    You are welcome on my lawn.