Drosophila melanogaster.

Drosophila melanogaster is simply put- a fruit fly. I have been reading a book called 'Time, Love, Memory; A great biologist, and his quest for the origins of behaviour' by Jonathan weiner.

I cannot recommend a book more! Usually one for books that transport me to a romanticised Asia, such as 'Memoirs of a geisha'. This was more than a refreshing change! It was as though this book reached out from the pages, and used both hands to save my Phoenix of science from the ashes!

Why do I know that bacteria have approximately 7000 genes, fruit fly 15000, and humans 70,000? Why do I know that the drosophila can learn better without its head? That neurons are much more complicated than transistors. It has inspired me to research even! So from now on I will no longer brag as to having inherited 'good genes', but more aptly, good 'alleles'!

That the period gene controls their sense of time, and how relevant this is to us. We have without doubt got some sort of period gene ourselves. How interesting this is, now influenced, with regards to unnatural light, and demand of consciousness.

However aside from this I know that Seymour Benzer et al discovered the period gene. He also had a wife called Dotty, who died of cancer. Unfortunate. Though he then met Carol Miller. She was, and still is a neuropathologist. Together they carried out an experiment that quietly and beautifully influenced the way all scientists considered the molecular structure of drosophila/fruit fly. They were "little humans with wings". Also "Seymour’s antibodies stained just a small and specific portion of the retina in the human eye, and the equivalent portion of the retina in the eye of the fly ". So understandably, at the very least, this kind of discovery significantly aided the studies of diseases such as Huntington’s, and Parkinson’s, etc. Neurological studies were revolutionised.


Having searched links for this book, I have also realised he died December 12th, 2007. It is quite sad. As I can think of no one I would have rather met. Perhaps I could have done? Who knew? Fortunately his wife is still alive, though not getting any recognition in the article linked above.

The book also talks of Francis Galton, to whom the term "nature versus nurture" actually belonged. The way his concept of eugenics, and talk of a utopia, with 'fitter, and smarter' humans, influenced the construction, and processes of auswitch. An unfortunate consequence of Galtons research. Though amazing what one man and intrigue alone can do. For better, or for worse.


If one happens to get ones mind round to reading this, you will trade in your N64, for a go on this amazing game. Okay so perhaps it's not quite a 'game', but I assure you it is all you'll want to do after reading this book!!


Also above is a picture of a 'silhouette of a bird in flight'. Ethologists carried out such a simple experiment, that says so much about how little we mere mortals know. The silhouette from right bottom corner to top left looks like a hawk. From top left to bottom right, a goose. They did this movement with a silhouette in sight of newborn gooslings. The gooslings hid when the shape looked like a hawk going forwards, and came out when the silhouette went backwards. Appearing to be a fellow goose. That is basicall what the entire book attempts to clarify. Brilliant.