The Hindu - Indian Newspapers in English Language from eight editions.

Fly's tiny brain 'may hold huge human benefits'

New York (PTI): The next time you smack that pesky fly which buzzes around your ear, give a second thought. It's tiny brain may hold key to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease in humans.

Researchers in the United States have carried out a study on fruit flies and found that by manipulating levels of certain compounds associated with the "circuitry" of the brain, key genes related to memory can be isolated and tested. "The implication for human health is that it could influence our understanding of the cognitive decline associated with Parkinson's disease and depression in humans," according to lead researcher Troy Zars.

The idea that animals have a system that can match the quality of a memory with the significance of the memory is well established. But, the problem the study addresses is the understanding of the mechanism by which that occurs. "We have developed a strategy to address how this matching occurs, so we can 'turn that crank' over and over again. It allows us to answer the questions, 'What gene is it', 'How does it function', 'How does it interact with other proteins'. We can find brand-new, completely unexpected things," Zars said.
The Hindu - Indian Newspapers in English Language from eight editions.

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