Second complete map of a fruit fly brain completed
Every neuron and connection in the brain of a fly has been mapped—twice.
On Friday, researchers unveiled the culmination of a project to map every neuron in the brain of a male fruit fly. The resulting connectome serves as a powerful tool to expedite neurobiology research, but also opens avenues for scientific inquiry independent of its initial purpose. The completion of a female Drosophila connectome earlier this year provided a basis for comparison and further refinement of analytical tools.
These tools are expected to prove invaluable for mapping increasingly complex nervous systems, potentially including those of vertebrates. The collaboration between biologists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus and computer scientists at Google was crucial, each recognizing the necessity of the other's expertise.
Preparing a whole brain for imaging at the required resolution demands specialized skills, as does deciphering the information gleaned from those images. However, constructing a comprehensive map of the millions of synapses in such a diminutive brain is an endeavor beyond human capability. The research team anticipates that in the long run, the effort will yield significant benefits, as the connectome promises to provide neurobiologists with a potent instrument for unraveling the intricacies of brain function.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Second complete map of a fruit fly brain completed arstechnica.com
