No evidence for magnetic field effects on the behaviour of Drosophila

Abstract

Overview

Migratory songbirds have demonstrated an ability to navigate using Earth's magnetic field, a light-dependent mechanism not fully understood. Researchers suspect that this involves quantum spin dynamics in cryptochrome proteins of the retina. Conversely, similar effects were hypothesized in Drosophila, a model organism used to support this theory.

Findings

An extensive study involving 97,658 Drosophila flies tested for behavior indicative of magnetic-field sensitivity showed no discernible effects. The flies did not exhibit sensitivity in a controlled two-arm maze nor during a negative geotaxis spontaneous escape behavior. Previous studies suggesting such effects were reassessed and likely represent false positives.

Conclusion

This study critically undermines the hypothesis of magnetically sensitive behavior in Drosophila, implying that the cryptochrome-mediated radical pair mechanism in birds still stands as the most plausible explanation for magnetoreception. The findings point to the necessity of focusing on night-migratory songbirds for further investigation into this phenomenon.