4 ms·

The article says the organism tries several approaches in succession to escape the unpleasant carmine. This still isn't super advanced behavior, but it's intere

• JumpCrisscross 6y ago
  > the organism tries several approaches in succession to escape the unpleasant carmine This implies memory. Venus fly traps use calcium gradients for short-term memory [1]. It would be interesting to learn how this organism remembers. [1] https://www.sciencenews.org/article/how-venus-flytraps-store-short-term-memories-prey https://www.sciencenews.org/article/how-venus-flytraps-store...
  • im3w1l 6y ago
    > This implies memory. Shouldn't be too surprising. "In genetics, a promoter is a sequence of DNA to which proteins bind that initiate transcription of a single RNA from the DNA downstream of it. This RNA may encode a protein, or can have a function in and of itself, such as tRNA, mRNA, or rRNA. Promoters are located near the transcription start sites of genes, upstream on the DNA (towards the 5' region of the sense strand)." In programming terminology, the promoter region listens for events, and is followed by a handler body. So protein concentrations can be used for state. Regarding the calcium gradients you mentioned, I wonder... I think they are more about inter-cellular communication. Cells can use calcium to make electricity. Calcium is also used by neurons to send electric pulses. I actually find it fascinating that neurons are not unique in using electricity to communicate - that an analog exists in the plant world.
  • LaserPineapple 6y ago
    What does it remember? The approach tried previously?
    • loa_in_ 6y ago
      Probably stress level, and the approach that follows, follows from that.