For many of us, the aroma of organic decomposition is one thing that you don’t want to deal with. However experts have demostrated that, fruit flies are attracted to the aroma of ripe and especially rotting fruit. The later could be the most aromatic to their specie. The idea behind this attraction could perhaps explain the attraction of humans of the other sex, or of animals during mating period. There could be a connection between food and sex and fruit flies seem to have the answer.
Just one single whiff turns the switch on when it comes to courtship. Scientists have noted for a while theses particular pathways could possibly make male flies to trigger mating, these actions could possibly be induced by odor or scent. Much like human beings, people are turned on with substances such as those found in supplements like aphrodisiac drugs.
“This really is among the first instances of a meal aphrodisiac, a particular sensory pathway within the olfactory system or the system that allows us to smell. This sets off sexual behaviors,” stated Swiss analyst Richard Benton, leading the research.
The staff came across the link involving sex and olfaction in the midst of analyzing the perception of smell among fruit flies. They noticed that among the brain-pathways they have found had been proven to control sexual behavior. The entire research suddenly became more interesting.
Through screening more than 160 various scents, the group discovered about three substances which could make flies want to mate: te phenylacetaldehyde, the phenylacetic acid, and the phenylethylamine. These chemical substances are generally present in fermenting fruits as well as plants. The studies uncover a fascinating evolutionary connection involving feeding as well as reproductive habits.
“This shows that this is a genuine natural system in which the flies could mate throughout a feeding setting, an excellent spot to have sexual intercourse and then produce baby flies,” Benton stated. “Additionally, it increases the question whether or not various other creatures have related sensory pathways.”