It Has Been Discovered That Grasshoppers Can Detect Cancer By Sniffing

Grasshoppers, one of the insect species living on our planet, can have some interesting features, although they are known to scare many people. located in the USA from Michigan State University Scientists also found that locust, or migratory locusts, as it is known, can distinguish cancerous cells from healthy cells by smell.

The researchers also stated that the locusts can distinguish between different cancer cells. This study, which reveals that grasshoppers can be used in early cancer diagnosis, was published on BioRxiv in the past months.

Grasshoppers could be used to build devices that can diagnose cancer

Let’s first say that people who are afraid of these insects need not worry about the possibility of locusts flocking to the practice. The researchers found that the study findings only Devices that can detect cancer early with the patient’s breath and use insect sensory neurons that it can form the basis for

Experts state that although it may seem like a dream now, such devices may become widespread in the future. This is because technologies that augment our natural senses and outperform them are common and useful. For example, telescopes and microscopes can show us things we can’t normally see. Saying that this is also the case with smell, scientists say that they are used from the diagnosis of COVID to finding drugs. dogs shows this as an example.

That’s why they’re working on a device that can mimic the sense of smell. Debajit Saha, one of the researchers, said that humanity has been around for more than 15 years. ‘electronic nose’ that it works on devices that we can call however, he states that the desired perfection has not been reached yet.

Gas-sensing devices can save lives, especially by playing a role in the early detection of deadly diseases such as cancer. Experts say that the survival of people with cancer detected in the first stage 80% to 90% stresses the importance of this. Cancer cells work differently from healthy cells, forming different chemical compounds as they grow. The fact that these reach the patient’s respiratory tract shows that the disease can be detected by breathing.

Grasshoppers can distinguish three different cancers by smell

Working on the subject, the team chose to work with grasshoppers. Researchers into the brains of animals electrodes He recorded their response to healthy and cancerous cells by connecting them, and achieved these surprising results. These electrodes were placed to capture signals from antennae that grasshoppers use to detect odors. Experts stated that this system can be used in cancer diagnosis.

In addition, a very interesting ability of the locusts was discovered by the research. The team delivered a gas containing three different cancer cells to the locusts through a device they developed. As a result, it was seen that the brains of the locusts responded differently to each tissue and were able to identify sick cells. One of the researchers, Christopher Contag, is also concerned about this.It was amazing how insects were able to distinguish between three different cancers.” used the phrases.

According to the statements, scientists used their detection systems. detect by human breath continues to work for Aiming to develop insect-free portable sensors with only biological components, the team in early detection of cancer highlights that it can play a major role.