The Memory of Snails
We all have heard about the memory of elephants—they can
retain info for a long, long time. But lately there have been experiments on:
Snails
“Memory transfer has been at the heart of science fiction
for decades, but it's becoming more like science fact.
A team successfully transplanted memories by transferring a
form of genetic information called RNA from one snail into another.
The snails were trained to develop a defensive reaction.
When the RNA was inserted into snails that had not undergone
this process, they behaved just as if they had been sensitised.
The research, published in the journal eNeuro, could provide
new clues in the search for the physical basis of memory.
RNA stands for ribonucleic acid; it's a large molecule
involved in various essential roles within biological organisms - including the
assembly of proteins and the way that genes are expressed more generally.
The scientists gave mild electric shocks to the tails of a
species of marine snail called Aplysia californica. After these shocks were
administered, the snails' defensive withdrawal reflex - where the snails
contract in order to protect themselves from harm - became more pronounced.
When the researchers subsequently tapped the snails, they
found those that had been given the shocks displayed a defensive contraction
lasting about 50 seconds, while those that had not received the shocks
contracted for only about one second.
The shocked snails had been "sensitised" to the
stimulus.”
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