Fruit flies assist in battle against 'invisible killer'

From: China Daily | Date: February 18, 2003 | Copyright information

SHANGHAI: Chinese scientists have discovered that tiny fruit flies are very sensitive to poisonous gases given off by household finishing materials, which harm human health and are known as an "invisible killer."

A type of eucaryote multicellular insect, fruit flies have similar physiological functions and metabolic systems to that of mammals and are very sensitive to air quality.

According to Li Shuguang, dean of the pre-clinical medicine institute of the Shanghai-based Tongji University, scientists detected fruit flies' abnormal reaction to polluted indoor air through an interesting ...

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