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Zoneboy · 06-04-2008, 10:52 AM

Stupid flies live longer: study

Link

GENEVA (AFP) - It doesn't pay to be smart and ignorance really is bliss if you want a long life -- at least if you're a fly, according to new research by a Swiss university.

Scientists Tadeusz Kawecki and Joep Burger at the University of Lausanne said Wednesday they had discovered a "negative correlation between an improvement in a fly's mental capacity and its longevity".

As part of their research project, the results of which are published in the journal Evolution, they divided into two a group of flies from the Basel region of northwestern Switzerland.

One half was left in a natural state while the other had its intelligence boosted by Pavlovian methods, such as associating smell and taste with particular food or experiences.

Over 30 to 40 generations, these methods led to flies which clearly learned better and remembered things for longer.

The flipside was that the flies left in their natural state lived longer on average than their "cleverer" counterparts, with a lifespan of 80-85 days rather than the normal 50-60..

"In other terms, the more the fly becomes intelligent, the shorter its lifespan," the scientists said.

This is most probably because the increase in neural activity weakens the fly's life-support systems, they speculated.

"This would explain why flies, like most other animals, have hardly developed their neural capacities," they said.

catlover79 · 06-04-2008, 11:36 AM

Gee, it must REALLY have been a slow day.

TJL · 06-04-2008, 02:16 PM

The handful of flies that were trained to study for the SATs only lived a few days.

80sTrivia · 06-04-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

The handful of flies that were trained to study for the SATs only lived a few days.

Ireneparalegal · 06-04-2008, 07:41 PM

Tell me they used their own personal money for that research. What a waste. Better off giving that money to hungry kids in Africa.

hno:

OH Nuts! · 06-05-2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

The handful of flies that were trained to study for the SATs only lived a few days.

but they sure did know their word analogies

06-04-2008, 10:52 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	Dumbest Study Ever? College Students with Obviously Nothing Better to do Stupid flies live longer: study Link GENEVA (AFP) - It doesn't pay to be smart and ignorance really is bliss if you want a long life -- at least if you're a fly, according to new research by a Swiss university. Scientists Tadeusz Kawecki and Joep Burger at the University of Lausanne said Wednesday they had discovered a "negative correlation between an improvement in a fly's mental capacity and its longevity". As part of their research project, the results of which are published in the journal Evolution, they divided into two a group of flies from the Basel region of northwestern Switzerland. One half was left in a natural state while the other had its intelligence boosted by Pavlovian methods, such as associating smell and taste with particular food or experiences. Over 30 to 40 generations, these methods led to flies which clearly learned better and remembered things for longer. The flipside was that the flies left in their natural state lived longer on average than their "cleverer" counterparts, with a lifespan of 80-85 days rather than the normal 50-60.. "In other terms, the more the fly becomes intelligent, the shorter its lifespan," the scientists said. This is most probably because the increase in neural activity weakens the fly's life-support systems, they speculated. "This would explain why flies, like most other animals, have hardly developed their neural capacities," they said.
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06-04-2008, 11:36 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Gee, it must REALLY have been a slow day.
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06-04-2008, 02:16 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	The handful of flies that were trained to study for the SATs only lived a few days.
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06-04-2008, 07:41 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,689	Tell me they used their own personal money for that research. What a waste. Better off giving that money to hungry kids in Africa. hno:
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