Scientists have discovered two new neurons in male worms of the species Caernorhabditis elegans to suggest that some worms are “programmed” to prefer mating with food.
The two new cells, called “mystery cells” were discovered by a group of scientists led by Arantza Barrios at University College London. They realized that these cells exist only in male worms when they reach maturity and therefore should have an important role in your sex life.
To test this, they used a salty environment and the worms conditioned to dislike salt. Unlike other worms, those who had cells “mystery” headed for salty environments in search of mates to reproduce.
The group of scientists found that these cells are neurons encourage the male to reproduce and can even influence the worms to choose the sex to food.
“This is a shock,” says firm Richard Poole, a biologist of the development of the University College London (UCL) which belongs to the team of researchers found neurons accidentally when International Journal ‘Nature 1′.
The worm Caernorhabditis elegans is an organism often studied by neuroscientists to present a very simple organism and be able to watch their neural circuits in their entirety. But a part of the C. elegans remained hidden.
“When scientists study the male, they are focused and most obvious difference of areas such as tail. Maybe they have not at any prestadp enough attention in the brain, “says biologist Richard Poole.
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