NA217-Scientists control worms with nanoparticles, next step ‘whole animal’

Scientists control worms with nanoparticles, next step ‘whole animal’

PHYSICISTS at the University of Buffalo in the US have discovered a way to remotely control animal behaviour.

By introducing clusters of magnetic nanoparticles into the cell membranes of tiny worms, researchers then showed they could control the worms' movements.

A video of the worms shows them crawling around, before researchers turn on a magnetic field which heated the nanoparticles up, forcing the worms to change direction.

"We could use this method to make them go back and forth," assistant professor of physics Arnd Pralle said.

"Now we need to find out which other behaviours can be controlled this way."

Prof Pralle said the worms reacted once the nanoparticle temperatures reached 34C, which is nature's own threshold for provoking an avoidance response.

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