Scientists to use fruit flies, trained dogs to sniff out cancer in humans ;

Fruit flies can sniff out cancer in humans 




























German scientists plan to deploy fruit flies and trained dogs to pinpoint the unique odours of different illnesses, including cancer.
Scientists at the University of Konstanz in Germany are now working with a British charity, Medical Detection Dogs, which trains dogs to detect cancer and other illnesses, the metro.co.uk reported.
The researchers hope to make the best use of the superb senses of fruit flies and trained dogs to identify different odours.

 

 

 

Scientists use genetically modified flies whose brain cells shine under the microscope to pick out the scents of particular illnesses, the report said citing experts.
The flies could also offer a first step towards electronic 'noses' which can sniff for cancer, the report quoted Claire Guest, CEO of Medical Detection Dogs, as saying.
"We're just starting this collaboration - and should make some progress within the next two to three years," he said.
"Fruit flies are just these tiny little things - but they are able to detect different odours. Different parts of their brain light up under the microscope," he added.
"Dogs can detect odours, but they have to be trained to detect each one. Working in tandem like this doubles the amount of knowledge available to us.
"Each odour produces a certain pattern. When you're training a dog to find a particular odour, we could verify the odour with the flies," Guest said.