It is easily done in humans, but getting fruit flies addicted to cocaine is another matter. Fortunately, researchers from Salt Lake City1 – the ‘city of saints’ – have now managed it (Journal of Neuroscience, 2 June). The difficulty is that fruit flies share 75 per cent of their genes with humans, yet are evolutionarily programmed to avoid plant toxins – and cocaine is one such toxin. When given the choice between sugar water with or without cocaine, fruit flies consistently opt for the drug-free option. The solution turns out to be genetically disabling the bitter-sensitive taste receptors. These transgenic model organisms can now finally join the merry drug circuit. (GvM)
1 The print edition of Bionieuws incorrectly stated: ‘Washington – the city of “very stable geniuses”‘