Electroreception: Worms leap to insects for dispersal

Xinxing Zhang; X Z Shawn Xu

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.018

Electroreception: Worms leap to insects for dispersal

Curr Biol. 2023 Jul 24;33(14):R775-R777. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.018.

Authors

Xinxing Zhang¹, X Z Shawn Xu²

Affiliations

¹ Life Sciences Institute University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
² Life Sciences Institute University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: shawnxu@umich.edu.

PMID: 37490866
PMCID: PMC10914292 (available on 2024-07-24)
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.018

Abstract

Electroreception is employed by some fishes to locate prey or predators. However, why the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans senses electric fields is unclear. A new study shows that electroreception helps these microscopic worms to attach themselves to insects for transportation.

MeSH terms

Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans
Electricity
Fishes*
Insecta
Sensation*

Grants and funding

R35 GM126917/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States