Ants can “sniff out” cancer!
After a few minutes of training, these insects, were able to differentiate healthy human cells from cancerous human cells
Paul Devienne, Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée at 'Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
A team of scientists from the CNRS, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Institut Curie and Inserm have demonstrated how a species of ants, Formica fusca, has performed in the area. After a few minutes of training, these insects, which use smell for daily tasks, were able to differentiate healthy human cells from cancerous human cells. By analysing the compounds emitted by various cells, the scientists have shown that each cell line had its own smell that could be used by the ants to detect them.
The efficacy of this method must now be assessed using clinical trials on a human being but this first study shows that ants have high potential, are capable of learning very quickly, at lower cost, and are efficient.
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