“In its natural environment, Drosophila melanogaster feeds on yeasts that grow on sugar-rich substrates such as fermenting fruit. Fruits, however, also harbor toxic microbes, and flies need to distinguish those microbes that are safe and nutritious from the harmful ones. In this issue, Stensmyr et al. (pp. 1345–1357) demonstrate that flies detect toxic molds by sensing a volatile compound called geosmin, which exclusively triggers a dedicated signaling pathway in the flies’ olfactory system. This circuit, upon activation, causes innate aversion and also prevents egg laying and feeding. Cover concept by Rakel and Marcus Stensmyr. Clay modeling and photo by Marcus Stensmyr.”

“In its natural environment, Drosophila melanogaster feeds on yeasts that grow on sugar-rich substrates such as fermenting fruit. Fruits, however, also harbor toxic microbes, and flies need to distinguish those microbes that are safe and nutritious from the harmful ones. In this issue, Stensmyr et al. (pp. 1345–1357) demonstrate that flies detect toxic molds by sensing a volatile compound called geosmin, which exclusively triggers a dedicated signaling pathway in the flies’ olfactory system. This circuit, upon activation, causes innate aversion and also prevents egg laying and feeding. Cover concept by Rakel and Marcus Stensmyr. Clay modeling and photo by Marcus Stensmyr.”

(Source: cell.com)

5 months ago  165 notes
  1. andthenitspoke reblogged this from scientificillustration
  2. penguincoast reblogged this from scientificillustration
  3. dormirai reblogged this from scientificillustration
  4. foolish-icarus reblogged this from scientificillustration
  5. daft-punks reblogged this from scientificillustration
  6. 8raven7 reblogged this from scientificillustration
  7. monoclonalanybody reblogged this from scientificillustration
  8. jraymags reblogged this from scientificillustration
  9. mindocr reblogged this from freshphotons
  10. sassiavelli reblogged this from mater--tua
  11. biotechagent reblogged this from freshphotons
  12. melrogar reblogged this from scientificillustration
  13. pourquoipourquoi reblogged this from scientificillustration and added:
    Pour la job. est-ce que ça marche avec D. suzuki?
  14. mater--tua reblogged this from lowsodiumsoysauce
  15. lowsodiumsoysauce reblogged this from scientificillustration
  16. slipshod-sunshine reblogged this from scientificillustration
  17. humming-bird-moth reblogged this from scientificillustration
  18. weareallbirds reblogged this from scientificillustration
  19. titaniumorb reblogged this from scientificillustration and added:
    ain’t insects great? :D
  20. alicestark-the-hunter reblogged this from scientificillustration
  21. tunnelman reblogged this from scientificillustration