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Single gene makes fruit flies good at videogames, D&D

by JGordon on Jul. 23rd, 2008
in , , and

Up up down down left right left right B A start!: or was it IDDQD? Yes! Infinite lives and ammo.
Up up down down left right left right B A start!: or was it IDDQD? Yes! Infinite lives and ammo.
Courtesy bramblejungle
A single gene has been isolated in male fruit flies that seems to somehow make them skilled at videogames, Dungeons and Dragons (all versions), and Star Trek trivia.

Scientists are not yet able to fully explain this phenomenon, but they believe that the gene may govern a pheromone receptor, and causes it to block or misinterpret chemical signals normal fruit flies receive as stimuli towards good hygiene, snappy dressing, and social interaction.

So skilled are these fruit flies at games and trivia, they are able to actually beat games that don’t exist, and answer questions about Next Generation episodes that never made it to filming. Likewise, these flies have often been observed “rolling” for everyday actions and commenting derisively on the stats of peers.

Read all about it here, friends.

Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

<em>Liza</em>'s picture
Liza says:

Apparently the gene also makes them interested in decapitated flies (did I read that right?), which is a whole different game entirely...

I particularly liked the description of decapitated flies as "passive." Well, yeah, I'd guess so!

posted on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 10:27pm

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