Scientists from Columbia University in the US and Sheffield University in the UK are collaborating to simulate the first complete model of an insect brain on a computer.
They believe that a full model of a fruit fly will give them a better understanding of how the human brain works.
The project is funded jointly by the National Sciences Foundation in the US and the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council UK. Once developed, the open software platform will enable researchers across the world to contribute data, tools and models to help construct the brain.
