The researchers noted that when an organism encounters a threat in its environment, it is beneficial for it to warn
At first, the laboratory staff realized that the worms,infected by P. aeruginosa learn to avoid bacteria, and they can pass this behavior on to offspring - up to four next generations. Maternal worms that eat P. aeruginosa consume bacterial small RNA, which triggers a signal in the worm's germline reproductive cells. It is then transmitted to a neuron that controls behavior. After that, the signal of danger is preserved in the offspring through changes made to the cells of the germ line.
We found that one worm can teachavoid pathogenic bacteria, and the memory of it will remain for many years. Their behavior does not change, even if we grind the worm, change its environment, and perform any other changes.
Murphy Lab Press Release
This study suggested thatworms emit a signal that changes the behavior of other worms. In doing so, the scientists were able to find that the signal triggers the same learning in the recipient worms as in the worms exposed to the pathogen.
Other researchers have already shown that marinethe Aplysia slug is capable of transferring memories between individuals. But the new work of scientists allows you to see the specific mechanism of such a signal. Next, the researchers want to study this process in more detail and are working to present it to the scientific community in as much detail as possible.
To read Further
Scientists have been unable to catch Rambo's fox for three years. It prevents rare animals from being released into the forest.
Invisible planes can no longer hide: China creates a quantum radar to find them
Scientists told who is more likely to get coronavirus in the next wave