15 comments

[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 24.3 ms ] thread
Man you could turn this into an awesome conspiracy theory with iron nano particles and gene modifying RNA being injected and then controlled using 5G.
Please do not give morons fuel.
How about world-wide gangster computer god Frankenstein controls and brains in jars on the far side of the moon?
(comment deleted)
Not enough truthiness. It needs to have at least some connections to published papers or news stories so that when people look it up they find related content that stokes their belief. After that the posts they generate will mutate the story and provide more material for others to build on. Come on man, this is Memes 101.
Or a gene drive that accomplishes the same thing, enslaving all of humanity within a few generations.
> The researchers used genetic engineering to express a special heat-sensitive ion channel in neurons that cause flies to partially spread their wings, a common mating gesture. The researchers then injected magnetic nanoparticles that could be heated with an applied magnetic field.

The title somewhat obscures the part where the flies are genetically modified, and require injected nano particles to function as described.

Still fascinating.

Genetic modification is common in research like this, so are injections of various nanoparticles and viruses. The field of optogenetics is based around similar methods
There are genes that can create sub cellular nanoparticles as well. i guess you could genetically edit germline gene modifications or even genetic modification post viable organism to create "in situ" nanoparticles

https://www.nature.com/articles/am201590

Optogenetics can be more invasive than what we see with the fruit flies as they usually involve running fiberoptics directly to the desired nerves. Also potentially more useful in growing tissues in petri dishes. new muscle tissue for heart/ethical meat you name it.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5437765/

What we are seeing is sub second rudimentary brainwave manipulation. Literally a rudimentary remote controlled fly.

Congrats to Prof. Robinson, know him from his publications on conductive polymers