Fly Brain and Gut

About this video

Exploring the link between gut and brain

PhD student Paola Cognigni at the University of Cambridge explores the anatomical and functional connection between the brain and gut of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Cognigni explains that the image comes from the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge and is part of a research project that aims to "find and explain the interactions between internal organs and their importance in growth and health."

The brain is about 700 microns wide: about the size of a pencil tip.

The image was taken in the Zoology Dept Imaging Facility on a Leica SP5 confocal system.