Taste neurons detect CO2: fruit fly

1 of 1 Drosophila melanogaster / Botaurus ste.. / License

The sensory system of fruit flies detects CO2 via specialized taste neurons.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Process information >
	Sense signals/environmental cues >
	Chemicals (odor, taste, etc.)

Biomimetic Application Ideas

CO2 is increasingly used in chemical manufacturing. CO2 sensing mechanisms are likely useful for the control of chemical processes utilizing CO2.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Here we identify a novel taste modality in this insect: the taste of carbonated water. We use a combination of anatomical, calcium imaging and behavioural approaches to identify a population of taste neurons that detects CO2." (Fischler 2007:1054)

About the inspiring organism

Med_drosophilamelanogasternauenerstadtwald03vii200702

Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830
[Fruit fly]

Some organism data provided by: BDWD: BioSystematic Database of World Diptera
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: CO2 is increasingly used in chemical manufacturing. CO2 sensing mechanisms are likely useful for the control of chemical processes utilizing CO2.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Chemical manufacturing.

Experts

The Scott Lab, Fly Taste and Behavior
Kristin Scott
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley

References

Fischler, Walter; Kong, Priscilla; Marella, Sunanda; Scott, Kristin. 2007. The detection of carbonation by the Drosophila gustatory system. Nature. 448(7157): 1054-1057.

Taste neurons detect CO2: fruit fly

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