A simple organism such as the fly makes this research much easier. Not only is the entire genome available, the potential for new discoveries is increased by the speed of reproduction, and as a result, trait selection. The benefits aren't present with studies using mammals, Bonovich said. There is fair interest in fruit fly genome as a key model organism for similar studies. Neurotransmitters are the mailmen of the chemical instructions that the brain sends from neuron to neuron.
Dopamine is the chemical that cocaine and many antidepressants affect.
When these drugs are used, they attach themselves to the dopamine molecules, rendering them useless to the brain as instruction carriers. With constant production of the neurotransmitter, the brain is unable to use it properly. Dopamine builds up in the nervous system, producing the euphoria associated with cocaine use. The discovery of this chemical assistant in Drosophila, which in itself is similar to the human version, only adds to the relevance of the study of the chemical effects of cocaine in the fly. Wired Digital Inc. All rights reserved.