Scientists have shown that the smell of grasshoppers distinguishes different human cancer cells.

Researchers from Michigan State University have shown that grasshoppers not only detect the difference between cancerous and healthy cells, but also distinguish between different cancer cell lines. Preprint of the article published on the portal BioRxiv.

The grasshopper is a suitable model organism as it is relatively easy to attach electrodes to its brain. In doing so, the scientists recorded the insects’ brains’ response to gas samples produced by healthy and cancerous cells. They then used these signals to create chemical profiles of various cells. It turned out that the grasshopper brain distinguishes cancerous cells from the oral cavity from healthy ones, and even distinguishes three subspecies inside the first.

Cancer cells work differently from healthy cells and synthesize specific chemical compounds. If they enter the lungs or airways, they can be found in the inhaled air.

This work could form the basis of “electronic noses” devices to detect biomarkers in gases using sensory neurons in insects. Such devices will allow doctors to detect many types of cancer at very early stages, which will greatly improve patient survival. Work on the “electronic nose” has been going on for about 15 years, and the discovery of scientists can accelerate its development.