Mind control is a science fiction phenomenon, but university researchers believe they have unlocked the secrets to manually altering behavior after they reprogrammed the minds of ants, according to the Daily Mail. Instead of pocket watches and hypnotic suggestion, the researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have used a more scientific approach.
Scientists have successfully gone in and rewritten genes within the ants and in turn caused them to change their foraging behavior, according to their research.
Using epigenetics, which changes or alters genes without changing the DNA sequence, the researchers were able to change the caste specific behaviors of ants.
Ant societies have different caste systems with various duties assigned to each. Minors within the colony were given chemicals that caused them to forage more. "The results suggest that behavioral malleability in ants, and likely other animals, may be regulated in an epigenetic manner via histone modification," said Daniel F. Simola, postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study.
The scientists altered the epigenetic chemicals, or acetyl groups, which were on the histone protein complexes. This change altered ant behavior that was directly linked to their position within the colony.
The research might have the capability to expand outward, perhaps allowing humans to influence animal behavior or even other human beings.
