Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center revealed that worms have sex differences in the brain. (OH MY!) In the experiment there were two sides- buttery popcorn or fresh green veggies. The hermaphrodite(characteristics of both female and male) worms chose the buttery smell while the males went for the scent of the fresh vegetables. For further evidence, another experiment was conducted. Scientists tricked a few nerve cells of hermaphrodites, making them think they were in a male worm. This time, instead of going for the buttery scent they suddenly preferred the smell of the fresh veggies.
What is more important is that this worm experiment relates to humans and possible cures. Geneticist Douglas Portman is struggling to understand the gender differences in diseases like autism an
d depression. For example, more boys are diagnosed with autism, while
more girls are diagnosed with depression. Because of this, scientists question the idea that the brains of different sexes are different. “For so many diseases, like autism or mood disorders, it’s clear that they either are more prevalent in one sex than the other, or they manifest themselves differently. But no one really knows why,” said Portman. The discovery of sex differences in the brain can lead to bigger discoveries like treatments to diseases. “We think that sex differences in the brain may play a role. If we can understand these differences, it may give us some clues about how we can diagnose, prevent, and treat these diseases more effectively," Portman quotes.
This worm discovery opens a door to many other new questions, but one thing is for sure: “This work reveals an unexpected way that sex can influence the function of the brain,” says Portman
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/11/05/worms_take_the_sniff_test_to_reveal_sex_differences_in_brain.htmliologynews.net/archives/2007/11/05/worms_take_the_sniff_test_to_reveal_sex_differences_in_brain.html
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2007/11/05/worms_take_the_sniff_test_to_reveal_sex_differences_in_brain.htmliologynews.net/archives/2007/11/05/worms_take_the_sniff_test_to_reveal_sex_differences_in_brain.html
REFLECTION
Overall, this is all pretty amazing. Nerve cells can trick the whole worm to think they're male? haha, thats pretty funny. More importantly, can this whole new idea from worms start a whole new revolution of uncovering cures? Even mysteries like why more boys are diagnosed with autism could be uncovered. Furthermore, can all this possibly help us and the future generations???????
