Fruit flies are able to distinguish breast cancer cells from healthy mammary tissue, according to a new study. The humble fly joins dogs and honeybees as members of the animal kingdom that are able to detect odors associated with cancer. Researchers genetically engineered the flies so that receptor cells on their antenna glow when they latch onto cancer odors.
The fruit flies can be more precise than dogs, giving off different antenna patterns when a dog may only be able to point or sit.
Yeah, so maybe a mammogram is a bit easier than this. However, this study and others like it aim to build the body of knowledge scientists need to develop the next generation of cancer diagnosis techniques.
Read the full, original story: After Genetic Tweaks, Fruit Flies Glow When They Sense Cancer
