Fruit flies grow brainy on a poor diet

Regulatory mechanisms of nutrient-dependent neuronal development can be explored at the molecular level with the Drosophila C4da neuron located in the fruit flies' larvae. The hyperarborization phenotype was not caused by low concentrations of amino acids but rather by a simultaneous deficiency in vitamins, metal ions, and cholesterol. Nutrient-dependent development of somatosensory neurons plays a role in optimizing a trade-off between searching for high-nutrient foods and escaping from noxious environmental threats.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6aC9ZMq