Animals and Insects That Can Detect Cancer and Disease

13 July 2014

 - Dogs have been used for decades to sniff out chemical vapors from bombs, find missing children, and more recently to detect malignancies, all through their powerful sense of smell. Other animals are now being tapped for similar purposes.

Fruit flies have a wide range of highly developed odorant receptors. Scientists using calcium imaging technology found that cancer compounds elicit a sensory response when placed on fruit fly antenna, even at low concentrations.

The giant African pouched rat’s keen sense of smell is now being tapped for landmine searches. Among the benefits: Rats are cheaper and easier to transport than dogs, and because they weigh less, they don’t trip the bombs upon discovery.