Michigan, USA: In a recent study, it has been revealed that the lifespan of fellow flies that observe the corpses of fruit flies is shortened.
According to global media reports, researchers at the University of Michigan have been able to identify neurons that control the aging process in fruit flies. The discovery could lead to treatments that could reduce the effects of aging on humans.
The study, published in PLOS Biology, was led by Christy M. Gendron and Tohan S. Chakraborty. Both are from the University of Michigan’s Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Geriatrics Center.
We know that perceptual experiences can affect aging, and the ‘death perception’ effect in fruit flies is an example, the researchers said. When bees see other dead bees, they experience senescence and this depends on a type of serotonin receptor.
Aging is a complex process that can be influenced by both genetics and the environment, the researchers said in their press release. But how this happens is still a mystery.
(function(d, s, id){
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3&appId=770767426360150”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.7”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
