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Mental Health Awareness Week Fly Spy
11 May 2017

Fly Spy

These stringy fruit fly nerve cells (neurons) develop similarly to our own. This isn’t so surprising as we have around 70% of our genes in common with the fly. It makes them a lucrative place for scientists to hunt for clues to human brain disorders. The neuron in the middle, coloured with green fluorescence and containing red nuclei, is from a fly born without a gene called B52. It’s overgrown compared to a normal cell (left) or one with added B52 (right). As well as helping fly neurons to grow properly, B52 is vital to producing just the right amount of an important chemical called acetylcholine. In humans, faulty levels of acetylcholine have been linked to bipolar disorder. As similar genes to B52 are involved in controlling human acetylcholine, future fly studies may reveal hidden subtleties in the process, and guide the design of therapies.

Written by John Ankers

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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