Ants can now detect cancer cells, research shows

By
Web Desk
|

A view of ant larvae and ants feeding on honey, belonging to an enthusiast who rented a house to keep his ants, in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, April 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su
A view of ant larvae and ants feeding on honey, belonging to an enthusiast who rented a house to keep his ants, in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, April 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su
  • Scientists discover ants that can smell cancerous cells.
  • Ant species Formica fusca can differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells.
  • After more clinical trials, it can prove to be an efficient and cheaper diagnostic method.


PARIS: Studies have shown that a new species of ants can now detect cancer cells making it a less expensive method for diagnosis, Daily Mail reported.

A group of researchers from France’s CNRS, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Institut Curie and Inserm discovered a species of ants called the Formica fusca with incredible olfactory sense.

Experiments were conducted where smell of the cancerous cells was associated with a sugary reward. Once the association was strengthened, they were exposed to healthy cells and cancerous ones. It was found that the volatile organic compounds released by these cells were differentiated by the ants.

Diagnosing cancer is usually very expensive. Previously, dogs were also found good-enough to sniff out cancer but that process takes longer. With this discovery, researchers hope that early cancer detection can become easier and cheaper.

French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) said in a statement on Wednesday, "The efficacy of this method must now be assessed using clinical trials on a human being, but this first study shows that ants have high potential, are capable of learning very quickly, at lower cost, and are efficient."