Israeli Researchers Discover Oriental Hornet’s Unique Alcohol Metabolism
In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel have identified the oriental hornet as the first animal capable of consuming large amounts of alcohol without suffering harmful effects. Led by Sofia Bouchebti from Professor Eran Levin’s lab, the team discovered that these hornets possess a unique digestive system with natural yeasts that efficiently break down alcohol.
Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal that the hornets have multiple copies of a gene responsible for an alcohol-metabolizing enzyme. This genetic trait allows them to metabolize alcohol rapidly, even when it is their sole nutritional source at concentrations as high as 80 percent, without any negative health effects or behavioral changes.
Unlike humans and other animals, which can suffer from alcohol poisoning, the oriental hornets showed no difference in lifespan or health when consuming alcohol compared to sugar water. This discovery could lead to new insights into treating alcohol-use disorders and developing medical applications for detoxifying alcohol.
Professor Levin highlighted the potential of using oriental hornets as a model for studying alcoholism and alcohol metabolism, given that 5.3 percent of global deaths are linked to alcohol consumption. The researchers hope their findings will pave the way for new methods of addressing alcohol-related issues in humans.
Doubts Revealed
Israeli Researchers -: Israeli researchers are scientists from Israel, a country in the Middle East, who study and discover new things about the world.
Oriental Hornet -: The oriental hornet is a type of insect that looks like a big wasp and is found in parts of Asia, including India.
Alcohol Metabolism -: Alcohol metabolism is the process by which the body breaks down alcohol, usually in the liver, so it can be removed from the body.
Tel Aviv University -: Tel Aviv University is a big school in Israel where people go to learn and do research on many different subjects.
Natural Yeasts -: Natural yeasts are tiny living things that help break down food and drinks, like how yeast helps bread rise or turns juice into wine.
Gene -: A gene is a tiny part of our body’s cells that carries information from our parents and helps decide how we look and how our body works.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -: This is a famous magazine where scientists publish their new discoveries so other scientists and people can learn about them.
Alcohol-use Disorders -: Alcohol-use disorders are problems people have when they drink too much alcohol, which can make them sick or cause other issues in their lives.
