A Genetically Engineered Fly That Can Smell Light

An anonymous reader writes "It sounds like a cool — if somewhat pointless — super-powered insect: a fly that can smell light! Researchers added a light-sensitive protein to a fruit fly's olfactory neurons, which caused the neurons to fire when the fly was exposed to a certain wavelength of blue light. Adding the protein specifically to neurons that respond to good smells, like bananas, makes for a light-seeking fly."

IOW

[aBaldrich]

In other words, it can see with its nose.

Re:What a wasted opportunity

[Hazza64]

No, you see the trick is to get them attracted to light. THEN they will land on those inefficient 80W bulbs attempting to eat it and burn their 'mouths' and feet in the process.

Re:What a wasted opportunity

[amicusNYCL]

Right, and all they have to do is genetically engineer all the flies in the world, or at least every population of them.

Re:How can they distinguish from normal behavior?

[h4rr4r]

They put little blindfolds on them, obviously.

Re:What a wasted opportunity

[EdIII]

You're thinking about it all wrong.

You set up fly traps that repel the genetically modified flies. What you end up with is flies that are genetically predisposed to stay away from the areas we designate. Assuming the genetic modifications don't have any other adverse affects I would say it would be a great idea. We could have a situation develop where flies stay away from us and yet are still part of the environment and the food chain.

Re:What a wasted opportunity

[GundamFan]

Nostradumbass on the other hand is, surprisingly, available.