Cyborg worms and lesbian mice

All that you see below is just a boring description of several recent news from the world of science. Therefore, it is better not to read further.



The development of American nanotechnology has led to the creation of remote-controlled worms at the University of Buffalo (Department of Physics, University at Buffalo). The principle of creating such an animal is quite simple. Iron -containing nanoparticles were integrated into the area around the nematode Caenhorhabditis elegans , which heated up and changed the behavior of the worms under the influence of a magnetic field: feeling the heat, they began to crawl in the opposite direction (such is their reflex). Below I give a video of this heartbreaking experiment.

But it’s not the worms themselves that are interesting, but the fact that, for example, neurons have thermo-sensitive ion channels that can be controlled in a similar way, i.e. on distance. The change in the activity of ion channels leads to a change in the functional state of the cell and affects the work of a particular organ and the organism as a whole. In light of the above, the expression “wireless mouse” may soon become ambiguous.
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Speaking of mice . Korean scientists turned off the FucM gene in female mice, which led to a radical change in their behavior. Having matured, these mice began to behave like the last males: they pestered other females, drank beer and watched football . Interestingly, the birth ability of the offspring remained with them, however, when scientists placed males into their cages, mutant mice stubbornly did not allow their suitor. However, insistent Koreans have found out that their offspring can become pregnant “when forced to mate with a sexually experienced male” ( link ). Sorry, I did not dare to translate this phrase.
The benefits of new knockout mice, according to researchers, is that they may be the first step towards understanding the causes of homosexuality. I also see the appearance in pet shops of pets with a non-traditional sexual orientation “for those who are not like everyone,” or cats that do not need to be neutered.

Not far behind, and British scientists from the University of Portsmouth. They found that the antidepressant fluoxetine kills shrimp ( link ). Under the influence of this drug, the experimental shrimps ceased to hide from the sunlight, moreover, they strove for it with all their might. Researchers are concerned that such behavior of small crustaceans will make them a victim of predators. And when all the shrimp are eaten, the ecological balance will break.
In fairness, it should be noted that selective serotonin reuptake neuronal seizure inhibitors, which include fluoxetine, according to some researchers, increase the risk of suicide in humans ( link ), which, however, should not lead to an environmental disaster.

Many interesting things have been published over the past couple of months. Thus, scientists have proved that friendship prolongs the life of baboons ( link ), that people tend to overestimate their body size ( link ), and depression in youth can cause senile marasmus ( link ).
In conclusion, I would like to say that humanity is changing everything around. We can control worms and mice, the drugs we take go into the ocean and make small invertebrates deadly fearless, we watch the monkeys and the Alzheimer's disease, and all this in order to be bothered with something new tomorrow. The main thing is not to overdo it and sometimes look inside yourself, selfishly turning away from the outside world.
So, I wanted to write a digest of science news, but I got a sermon.