Disgust circuit: Flies sniff out and avoid spoiled food
Thursday, December 6, 2012 - 13:50
in Biology & Nature
The ability to detect rotten food is so crucial for survival that even flies have a dedicated neural circuit to do just that, according to a new study. The brain circuit allows flies to avoid feeding and laying eggs on fruit covered in toxic molds and bacteria and represents a unique, specialized system for detecting a repulsive odor.