Thanks to the science of genetic engineering, some of our greatest science fiction fantasies have become reality, at least in laboratory settings. While we have yet to develop protocols for making a fully robotic fly to spy on our enemies, there is considerable research being conducted to better understand the little bugs that share this planet with us.
As Emily Anthes discusses in Frankenstein's Cat, the demand from the US military and CIA for the development of such bugs is high, and laboratories have already developed methods to interrupt and alter the flights of various bugs. However, there is plenty to be learned about the bugs themselves before they can be put into any operation with the US military. Dr. Dickinson from the University of Washington studies the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and its flying behavior. While most neuroscientists focus either on the physics or on the behavior of flight, Dr. Dickinson studies both. Emily Anthes and Dr. Dickinson both touch on the complexities that underlie insect flight. Anthes talks about how complete flight control is still not possible, and the human intervention is limited to changing direction or to start and stop wing flapping. While Dr. Dickinson does not directly work with robotics, he introduces several poorly understood aspects of the fruit fly which are summed up by his statement: "It's like having an alien in your lab."
A part of Dr. Dickinson's work surrounds the understanding of the flight physics, muscle physiology, and the neural computations behind the flight behavior. Ultimately this work can be further extended to learn about the exact neural mechanisms that occur in a fruit fly to truly understand how flies are able to have the body control and finesse as they buzz around your house, or react to a flyswatter. That is exactly what Dr. Dickinson's lab seeks to understand through high speed video equipment, micro-treadmills, and even "flight-simulators" that can mimick real environments. Such state-of-the-art technology along with the resources and knowledge to map neuronal activity, Dr. Dickinson is able to capture the fruit fly's brain activity in a controlled environment. While there is a lot more to be understood about the littlest bugs, every little discovery puts us closer to having the fruit flies become an ally for the 21st century spy.
References:
Anthes, Emily. Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts. 1st. Edition. New York: Scientific American, 2013. Print.
The Flight of the Fly. The New York Times, 2013. Web. 10 Oct 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkK63pHFML0>.
Gorman, James. "Focusing on Fruit Flies, Curiosity Takes Flight." The New York Times
The New York Times, 07 Oct 2013. Web. 10 Oct 2013. As Emily Anthes discusses in Frankenstein's Cat, the demand from the US military and CIA for the development of such bugs is high, and laboratories have already developed methods to interrupt and alter the flights of various bugs. However, there is plenty to be learned about the bugs themselves before they can be put into any operation with the US military. Dr. Dickinson from the University of Washington studies the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and its flying behavior. While most neuroscientists focus either on the physics or on the behavior of flight, Dr. Dickinson studies both. Emily Anthes and Dr. Dickinson both touch on the complexities that underlie insect flight. Anthes talks about how complete flight control is still not possible, and the human intervention is limited to changing direction or to start and stop wing flapping. While Dr. Dickinson does not directly work with robotics, he introduces several poorly understood aspects of the fruit fly which are summed up by his statement: "It's like having an alien in your lab."
A part of Dr. Dickinson's work surrounds the understanding of the flight physics, muscle physiology, and the neural computations behind the flight behavior. Ultimately this work can be further extended to learn about the exact neural mechanisms that occur in a fruit fly to truly understand how flies are able to have the body control and finesse as they buzz around your house, or react to a flyswatter. That is exactly what Dr. Dickinson's lab seeks to understand through high speed video equipment, micro-treadmills, and even "flight-simulators" that can mimick real environments. Such state-of-the-art technology along with the resources and knowledge to map neuronal activity, Dr. Dickinson is able to capture the fruit fly's brain activity in a controlled environment. While there is a lot more to be understood about the littlest bugs, every little discovery puts us closer to having the fruit flies become an ally for the 21st century spy.
References:
Anthes, Emily. Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts. 1st. Edition. New York: Scientific American, 2013. Print.
The Flight of the Fly. The New York Times, 2013. Web. 10 Oct 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkK63pHFML0>.
Gorman, James. "Focusing on Fruit Flies, Curiosity Takes Flight." The New York Times
No comments:
Post a Comment