A current study carried out by Tel Aviv University has uncovered that the female locust possesses remarkable capabilities. The research discovered that the female locusts main nervous system has elastic properties, enabling her to lengthen as much as two or 3 times her initial size when laying her eggs in the ground, with no long-term damage.
” We are not knowledgeable about a comparable capability in practically any living animal,” said the scientists. “Nerves in the human nerve system, for example, can stretch only as much as 30 percent without tearing or being permanently harmed. In the future, these findings may add to new advancements in the field of regenerative medicine, as a basis for nerve restoration and the advancement of artificial tissues.”
A brand-new study exposes that the female locusts main worried system has flexible residential or commercial properties, permitting her to stretch approximately 2 or three times her original length when laying her eggs in the ground, without causing any permanent damage. Credit: Tel-Aviv University
The female locusts digging capability allows her to bury her eggs in a safe place by extending her abdomen, including her nervous system, to two to 3 times its size– comparable to a superhero in a motion picture.
The researchers: “This capability is almost unthinkable from a morphological viewpoint, and as far as we understand it has practically no equal in nature.”
Dr. Pinchasik explains: “When the female locust is all set to lay her eggs, she digs a hole in the ground that will provide them protection and optimal conditions for hatching. We looked for to recognize the biomechanical mechanism that provides the female locust its terrific capability.”
In the research study, the researchers got rid of the main nervous systems from female locusts and positioned them in a liquid replicating their natural environment, under physiological conditions similar to those inside the body. We found that the nervous system of the female locust has flexible properties, which enable it to lengthen and then return by itself to its original state, prepared for reuse, without any damage triggered to the tissue. Professor Ayali concludes: “In our research study, we found that the main nervous system of the adult female locust is elastic and is able to stretch two to 3 times its initial length and then return to it, without any damage being caused.
Female Locust. Credit: Tel Aviv University
The research study was carried out by a team of Tel Aviv University scientists led by Dr. Bat-El Pinchasik of the School of Mechanical Engineering in the Fleischman Faculty of Engineering and Prof. Amir Ayali of the School of Zoology in the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences. The research was recently published in the journal iScience.
Delegated right- Professor Amir Ayali, Dr. Rakesh Das, and Dr. Bat-El Pinchasik. Credit: Tel Aviv University
Dr. Pinchasik discusses: “When the female locust is prepared to lay her eggs, she digs a hole in the ground that will provide them defense and optimal conditions for hatching. Therefore, an adult woman, whose body length is about 4 to five centimeters, may, for the purpose of laying her eggs, extend her body to a length of 10-15 centimeters, then quickly return to her typical length, and then extend again for the next egg-laying.”
Teacher Ayali: “The superpower of the locust is almost something out of science fiction. There are just 2 other recognized examples in nature of a comparable phenomenon: the tongue of the sperm whale, and a particular kind of sea snail whose worried systems are able to extend substantially due to an accordion-like mechanism they have. We looked for to determine the biomechanical system that gives the female locust its wonderful ability.”
In the research study, the scientists eliminated the main nervous systems from female locusts and positioned them in a liquid replicating their natural environment, under physiological conditions comparable to those inside the body. We discovered that the anxious system of the female locust has elastic homes, which allow it to lengthen and then return by itself to its initial state, all set for reuse, without any damage caused to the tissue.
Teacher Ayali concludes: “In our research study, we found that the main nervous system of the adult female locust is elastic and is able to stretch two to three times its original length and then return to it, without any damage being triggered. In more research studies, we will investigate the matter in depth, with the aim of recognizing the particular system that allows this special function.
Recommendation: “The biomechanics of ultra-stretchable nerves” by Rakesh Das, Amir Ayali, Moshe Guershon, Amjd Ibraheem, Eran Perlson and Bat-El Pinchasik, 8 October 2022, iScience.DOI: 10.1016/ j.isci.2022.105295.