Scientists claim to have found evidence of ‘free will’ in flies.
If the researchers are right, it means the annoying bluebottle or wasp that will not leave you alone is choosing to be a pest.
Buzzing with intelligence?
The discovery could overturn basic assumptions about the difference between humans and animals.
Understanding the mechanisms involved may also lead to development of free-thinking robots, bringing science fiction to life.
Simple creatures such as insects are generally regarded as biological machines which only respond to external stimuli.
Apparently variable behaviour in such animals is usually attributed to random activity in their brains.
But an international study of fruit flies has shown that cannot be the case – the flies tested appeared to make choices.
