This Killer Fungus Turns Flies into Zombies | Deep Look

Deep Look
22 Oct 201904:29

Summary

TLDRThis script narrates the chilling tale of a fruit fly's demise at the hands of a parasitic fungus. The fly, initially unsuspecting, ingests a spore that infiltrates its body and mind, eventually forcing it to climb high and die in a position that maximizes spore dispersal. Despite efforts to harness this fungus for pest control, it remains a fascinating but lethal natural phenomenon exclusive to insects, with no threat to humans.

Takeaways

  • 🐛 The fruit fly's brain is hijacked by a fungus, leading to its death.
  • 🍇 The infection begins when the fly ingests an invisible fungus spore from overripe fruit.
  • 🕒 After a few days, the fungus starts to control the fly's behavior.
  • 🌆 The fly exhibits 'summiting' behavior, climbing to a high place at dusk on the fourth or fifth day.
  • 🤧 The fungus takes full control, causing the fly to spit out a sticky liquid that glues it in place.
  • 🦟 The fly dies in a position that allows the fungus to launch its spores.
  • 💣 The fungus uses the fly's body to launch hundreds of spores, ensuring its next generation's spread.
  • 🧬 At Harvard, Carolyn Elya is researching how the fungus manipulates the fly's neurons.
  • 🚫 The fungus is not harmful to humans and cannot be used to control fly populations.
  • 🔬 Scientists have tried to harness the fungus's power to kill flies but have been unsuccessful due to its fragility and short lifespan.
  • 📺 The script is a transcript from a video, suggesting a visual component to the story.

Q & A

  • What organism is described as hijacking the fruit fly's brain?

    -The organism described is a type of fungus that infects the fruit fly.

  • How does the fungus initially infect the fruit fly?

    -The fungus infects the fruit fly by attaching to an invisible spore that the fly picks up while walking around and sipping on overripe fruit.

  • What happens to the fruit fly after the fungus has infected it?

    -After infection, the fungus grows inside the fly, feeding on its fat and eventually infiltrating its mind, leading to erratic behavior and ultimately death.

  • What is the term for the behavior where the infected fly climbs to a high place?

    -The term for this behavior is 'summiting.'

  • What does the fungus do to the fly once it has control of its actions?

    -Once the fungus has control, it makes the fly climb high, stick out its mouthpart to spit out a drop of sticky liquid, and then die in a position that allows the fungus to launch its spores.

  • How does the fungus spread to other flies?

    -The fungus spreads by launching spores from the dead fly's body. These spores can catch a breeze and infect other flies.

  • What is the purpose of the secondary spore mentioned in the script?

    -The secondary spore is used to increase the chances of spreading when the primary spores land on a wing, which they cannot penetrate.

  • What is the hypothesis of how the fungus takes control of the fly's brain according to Carolyn Elya?

    -Carolyn Elya hypothesizes that the fungus secretes chemicals to manipulate the fly's neurons, potentially stimulating those that make flies climb.

  • Is the fungus dangerous to humans?

    -No, the fungus is not dangerous to humans.

  • Have there been any successful attempts to use this fungus for pest control in kitchens and farms?

    -Despite attempts, scientists have not been successful in harnessing the fungus for pest control in kitchens and farms.

  • Why are the attempts to use the fungus for pest control unsuccessful?

    -The attempts are unsuccessful because the deadly spores are fragile and short-lived, making them ineffective for practical use.

Outlines

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Mindmap

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Keywords

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Highlights

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Transcripts

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Ähnliche Tags
Mind ControlFruit FlyFungusPuppet MasterParasiteBiological WarfareScientific MysteryEcologyHarvard ResearchPatreon Support
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