A recent scientific study has unveiled an intriguing finding regarding the microscopic worms known as Caenorhabditis elegans. These minuscule creatures possess the ability to employ electric fields in a remarkable “jumping” behavior, allowing them to hitch a ride on electrically charged objects such as bumblebees. This groundbreaking discovery establishes a connection between their well-known practice of attaching to insects for transportation and the previously enigmatic method by which they cover significant distances relative to their size. The study sheds light on their extraordinary capabilities. (Artist’s depiction)
In the natural world, small organisms often hitch a ride on larger creatures to conserve energy while traveling long distances.
A recently published study in the journal Current Biology has revealed the remarkable capacity of Caenorhabditis elegans worms to utilize electric fields to “leap” across Petri dishes or onto insects. This unique ability enables them to glide through the air and secure themselves onto naturally charged bumblebees, for example.
Takuma Sugi, a biophysics professor at Hiroshima University and co-senior author of the study, explains, “Pollinators, such as insects and hummingbirds, are known to carry an electric charge, and it is believed that pollen is attracted to the electric field created by the interaction between the pollinator and the plant. However, it was not entirely clear whether electric fields are employed in the interactions between different terrestrial animals.”
The researchers initiated this investigation when they noticed that the worms they were cultivating frequently ended up on the lids of Petri dishes, contrary to the agar they were initially placed on. Upon attaching a camera to observe this behavior, they discovered that the worms were not merely climbing the dish’s walls but rather propelling themselves from the floor to the ceiling.
Suspecting the involvement of electric fields in their movement, the researchers placed the worms on a glass electrode and found that they only leaped to another electrode once a charge was applied. The worms exhibited an average speed of 0.86 meters per second, similar to the pace of human walking, and this speed increased with the intensity of the electric field.
To further explore their behavior, the scientists coated bumblebees with flower pollen to induce a natural electric charge. In the presence of these charged bees, the worms positioned themselves on their tails before leaping onto their backs. In some instances, multiple worms formed a column and jumped together, enabling the transfer of up to 80 worms simultaneously across the gap.
Sugi explains, “Worms elevate themselves on their tails to reduce the surface energy between their bodies and the substrate, making it easier for them to attach to passing objects. In a column formation, one worm lifts multiple worms, allowing the entire column to take off and traverse the electric field.”
While C. elegans is known to attach to insects and snails for transportation, direct contact is required since these creatures do not retain electric fields effectively. The study establishes that winged insects naturally accumulate charge during flight, creating an electric field that C. elegans can exploit for their travel.
The exact mechanism behind this behavior in C. elegans remains unclear, and genetic factors may play a role. The researchers observed similar jumping behavior in other worm species closely related to C. elegans and noticed that mutants incapable of sensing electric fields exhibited reduced jumping compared to their normal counterparts.
Further investigations are necessary to determine the specific genes involved in enabling these jumps and whether other microorganisms can utilize electricity for similar purposes.
Reference: “Caenorhabditis elegans transfers across a gap under an electric field as dispersal behavior” by Takuya Chiba, Etsuko Okumura, Yukinori Nishigami, Toshiyuki Nakagaki, Takuma Sugi, and Katsuhiko Sato, 21 June 2023, Current Biology.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.042
The study received funding from the Office for the Promotion of Nanotechnology Collaborative Research, the Japan Science Society, the Consortium Office for the Fostering of Researchers in Future Generations, Hokkaido University, the JSPS Core-to-Core Program, the Research Program of Five-star Alliance in NJRC Mater. & Dev, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences, and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about electricity
What is the significance of the study on microscopic worms and their use of electricity?
The study reveals that microscopic worms, specifically Caenorhabditis elegans, have the ability to utilize electric fields to “jump” onto charged objects such as bumblebees. This discovery sheds light on their unique transportation method and explains how they cover significant distances relative to their size.
How do the worms utilize electric fields for their jumps?
The worms use electric fields to propel themselves from one location to another. When placed on a glass electrode and subjected to a charge, they exhibit jumping behavior, with an average speed comparable to human walking. This indicates their ability to harness electric fields for movement.
What objects do the worms hitch a ride on?
The study primarily focuses on the worms hitching a ride on electrically charged objects, specifically bumblebees. By standing on their tails, the worms jump onto the backs of charged bees. They can also form columns and jump together, enabling the transfer of multiple worms simultaneously.
How does this behavior relate to their attachment to insects?
The study establishes a link between the worms’ known behavior of attaching to insects for transportation and their use of electric fields for jumps. While they can attach directly to bugs and snails, electric fields play a crucial role in allowing them to traverse significant distances when it comes to winged insects.
Are other organisms capable of using electricity for jumping?
While the study focuses on Caenorhabditis elegans, it remains unknown if other microorganisms possess similar capabilities. Further research is required to determine if electricity-based jumping is a widespread phenomenon among different organisms and to explore the genetic factors that enable this behavior.
More about electricity
- Study: “Caenorhabditis elegans transfers across a gap under an electric field as dispersal behavior” – Link to the study
- Current Biology Journal – Link to the journal
- Hiroshima University – Link to Hiroshima University
- Office for the Promotion of Nanotechnology Collaborative Research – Link to the organization
- Japan Science Society – Link to the organization
- Hokkaido University – Link to Hokkaido University
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences – Link to the organization
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development – Link to the organization
