Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda
Mala Murthy: From a Fly’s Brain to Yours
Feb 4, 2025
Mala Murthy, a Professor of Neuroscience at Princeton University and co-leader of the Flywire Consortium, dives into the intricacies of the fruit fly's brain mapping. She reveals that understanding its 500 feet of neural wiring can provide insights into human cognition and potential disease treatments. The genetic similarities between fruit flies and humans open new avenues for research. Plus, she highlights how citizen scientists are revolutionizing neurological studies through collaboration and storytelling, bridging the gap between science and community.
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Quick takeaways
- Mapping the fruit fly brain reveals neural wiring connections that enhance our understanding of human thoughts and neurological diseases.
- The citizen science approach in this research fosters collaboration and encourages public engagement, improving the accuracy of scientific data analysis.
Deep dives
Mapping the Fly Brain
The Flywire Consortium has successfully created a comprehensive map of the fruit fly brain, which contains 140,000 neurons and over 50 million connections. This mapping effort helps scientists understand how brain wiring leads to thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. By comparing the fly brain to human brains, researchers aim to uncover insights into diseases and aging-related neurological issues. The remarkable complexity of the small fly brain, including 150 meters of wiring, illustrates how intricate connections can arise from seemingly simple structures.
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