How mosquitoes find their targets
Nowadays, many people around the world suffer from insect born diseases and they die from them. Many people already know that insects are very responsive to carbon dioxide in exhaled breath. A group of scientists in new york led by rockefeller university has discovered mosquitoes sense the gas using protein receptors in the stucture extending from their jaws. They found two protein receptors, Gr21a and Gr63a which allow the flys to feel carbon dioxide with their antennae. They studied about fly nerve cells that didnt usually react to carbon dioxide. So this can help to fight against the insect born diseases like malaria.
“The identification of the carbon dioxide receptor provides a potential target for the design of inhibitors that would act as an insect repellent.” Professor Leslie Vosshall, Rockefeller University
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Map of New York
on March 25th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Very interesting Steve. I know from traveling in different countries that one of our biggest concerns is getting bitten by mosquitoes because they can cause such serious illnesses. My friends and I make up theories about why some people get bitten more than others and what we should do to decrease the chance of getting bitten. So it’s all related to protein receptors? Fascinating. I hope they will use this knowledge to research better repellents.
Thank you for taking the time to post this. It shows a lot about how much you have matured in school. I’m proud of you.
Ms. S