Scientists from MIT: locusts can replace a human oncologist (5 photos)

More and more animals are being trained for the practical purposes of mankind.





We have domesticated so many fauna, many of which have outlived their original useful functions and live with us only as furry companions.



But those who have not yet been domesticated, moreover, who are even considered “pests” - MIT scientists consider locusts as “living” test systems for detecting oncology in humans.





In order to find out how sensitive the “smell” of insects is, American scientists grew several types of cancer cells that form in the oral cavity and took the same number of types of healthy cells from the oral cavity.



Research has revealed that the locust brain reacts differently to cancer cells. However, scientists have problems because devices that read brain activity can only measure 40 neurons. Because of this, several locusts are needed to detect cancer.



By the way, these insects, which acted as a “test system,” died after receiving the results. Although, as MIT scientists say, they are already dead in the process, since the electrodes are connected live to the locusts' brains.

“The insect is dead in terms of its body function, we are simply keeping its brain alive,” the scientists say.