Alcohol is a different kind of beverage for humans. It has a significant impact on their mind. Apart from humans, such an effect is also seen on many animals, of which everyone knows about monkeys. But is there any animal or creature whose brain is not affected by alcohol at all? In a research, scientists have discovered one such creature. They claim that alcohol has no effect on this creature at all, that is, no matter how much alcohol it drinks, it does not get intoxicated at all. This creature is a species of wasp which naturally drinks alcohol, but they never get any kind of intoxication or hangover.
Despite ethanol consumption
The study found the Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) wasp to be the only animal we know of that cannot become intoxicated by alcohol. Wasps naturally consume ethanol (the substance in alcohol that makes you drunk) as part of their diet, which includes nectar from flowers and fruits.
How was the experiment done?,
Researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel used V. orientalis as a model animal to test the effects of ethanol on wasps. After feeding the insects a sucrose solution containing 80 percent ethanol, the researchers observed no adverse effects on the wasps’ lifespan or behavior.
Oriental Hornets wasps themselves consume alcohol in their food. (Symbolic photo: Wikimedia Commons)
How to know the effect of alcohol,
Combining alcohol with carbon isotopes allowed the team to observe changes in the substances inside their bodies. Zoologist Sophia Buchebati says, “As alcohol is metabolized, it breaks down into carbon dioxide, which is released. “By measuring the amount of carbon dioxide coming out, we were able to estimate the speed at which the alcohol was broken down.”
before the alcohol takes effect
This study published in PNAS found that wasps’ metabolism disposed of alcohol twice as fast. Metabolism broke down the alcohol before they had a chance to show any insect-like behavior or symptoms like tumbling in the gutter like humans do, vomiting on themselves, or calling an ex in the early hours of the morning.
Scientists wanted to know what effect alcohol has on humans.
Why doesn’t this happen on wasps? (symbolic photo: shutterstock)
What could be the reason?,
Researchers believe this may be due to Oriental hornets having multiple copies of the alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+) gene, which produces an enzyme that breaks down alcohol. Insects also have an interesting co-evolutionary history with yeast, carrying brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in their digestive tracts before moving into the fruit.
fast digestion
As producers of alcohol, the transported brewer’s yeast may have provided further evolutionary incentive for the wasps to develop their tolerance to the substance. “The results were very surprising,” says Bouchebti; “We were amazed to see how quickly the hornets metabolized alcohol.”
This doesn’t happen with everyone
Animals like the painted treeshrew (Ptilocercus lowii) that can handle their own alcohol can only do so with substances of a certain alcohol content. By feeding hard substances to these drinkers, negative health effects start appearing very quickly. While such studies give us more insight into the complex functioning of the animal kingdom, they are also extremely useful in providing models for research on alcohol consumption and tolerance in humans.
This research can be very useful
The authors hope that their work can advance our understanding of our own drinking habits and ways that we can prevent alcohol-related deaths, which
Of all deaths worldwide today, they are linked to 5.3 percent. Zoologist Aaron Levin says, “We believe that, following our research, Oriental hornets can be used to develop new models to study alcohol addiction and alcohol metabolism.”
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FIRST PUBLISHED: November 10, 2024, 13:41 IST