November 22, 2016.
The immense vision capacity of mantis shrimp has inspired researchers who are developing a camera capable of detecting cancerous tissue, even before it is visible with conventional imaging systems.
The squille, a feared predator in the oceans
The squilles or “mantis shrimps” are a kind of superhero in the world of crustaceans. Contrary to what their name suggests, these marine animals are neither shrimp nor mantis. On the other hand, they have the reputation of being, despite their size which never exceeds 38 cm, one of the most aggressive predators in the animal world. This aggressiveness is not their only asset since researchers have also discovered in them the ability to detect cancer, even before the first symptoms appear.
Scientific research has been interested in this phenomenon for several years now. In 2014, a researcher from the University of Queensland, Australia, discovered that the eyesight of the squilla was significantly more evolved than that of humans. When our visual system extends from 390 to 700 nanometers, that of this crustacean widens from 300 to 720 nanometers and can therefore distinguish light rays close to the infrared or the ultraviolet..
Detect, no longer tumors, but diseased cells
From this discovery, scientists began to manufacture a camera that could replicate the extraordinary vision of the squillium, not only to detect cancerous tumors, but also to locate cancerous tissue with extreme precision, so that they can be removed just as precisely. The main change offered by these cameras, which are currently being tested, is to allow cancer to be observed before they even develop.
Currently, to detect colorectal cancer, for example, doctors perform a colonoscopy, which will deliver black-and-white images that they will need to examine for a mass. Thanks to new techniques inspired by the vision of squilles, the images can appear in a completely different way and will allow, thanks to colors, to delimit healthy tissues from diseased tissues, and thus to treat patients more effectively.
For more information: Medical treatments for cancer
