Biomechanics: Turning the key on Drosophila audition
The genetic dissection of Drosophila audition is advancing considerably, but complementary studies are needed to unravel the chain of mechanosensory events that bring about hearing in the fly. Here we investigate the delicate biomechanics of the fly's minute antennal hearing organs and show that they look and work like a lock and key. Rotating in response to sound, the antenna's distal segment mechanically activates the auditory receptors — thereby 'unlocking' the mechanism of Drosophila audition.