Scientists Create Zombie Cockroaches 243
Reservoir Hill writes "Zombie insects might sound like a B-movie plot device (quicktime video) but to the emerald cockroach wasp (Ampulex compressa), they're a tried and tested way to provide food for their hungry larvae. The wasp relies on cockroaches for its grisly life cycle but unlike many venomous predators, which paralyze their victims before eating them, the wasp's sting leaves the cockroach able to walk, but unable to initiate its own movement. Researchers have discovered that the wasps sting the cockroaches once to subdue them, then administer another, more precise sting right into their victim's brain. The venom works to block a neurotransmitter called octopamine with a similar action to dopamine, which is involved in preparations to execute complex behaviors such as walking. Then the wasp grabs the cockroach's antenna and leads it back to the nest 'like a dog on a leash', says one researcher. The team found that they could restore spontaneous walking behavior in stung cockroaches by giving them a compound that reactivates octopamine receptors in the insects' central nervous system. Researchers were also able to create their own zombies by injecting unstung cockroaches with a compound that blocks the receptors producing a similar effect to that of the venom."
Credit where credit is due... (Score:5, Funny)
Implications? (Score:1, Funny)
First thing I thought of was: (Score:1, Funny)
Yup, mod me down for that one, I deserve it.
Re:Implications? (Score:3, Funny)
I hear those are what "I am Legend" is about.
Re:First thing I thought of was: (Score:5, Funny)
slashdotters arrested (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Implications? (Score:5, Funny)
Well, I for one (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Actually that's how the political system works (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Bah (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Credit where credit is due... (Score:2, Funny)
Hawk moth pupae?
Re:Implications? (Score:2, Funny)
You might do better to welcome your new emerald wasp overlords. If you're able to do so, that is.
Brains? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Implications? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Eh? (Score:5, Funny)
"It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see
"You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?"
"No," said Ford, who by this time was a little more rational and
coherent than he had been, having finally had the coffee forced
down him, "nothing so simple. Nothing anything like so
straightforward. On its world, the people are people. The leaders
are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the
people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford. "It is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse,
"why don't people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them," said Ford. "They've all got
the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government
they've voted in more or less approximates to the government they
want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards?"
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard," said Ford, "the wrong
lizard might get in. Got any gin?"
Re:Actually that's how the political system works (Score:2, Funny)
Oh Thank God (Score:4, Funny)
Huge opportunity (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Credit where credit is due... (Score:5, Funny)
hey...ow!
i also welcome our wasp overlords!
Re:Credit where credit is due... (Score:5, Funny)