Here's Looking at You

Every year Cape Cod gets bombarded with tourists. But it's not just people who flock to the Cape - tens of thousands of Woods Hole squid vacation here too.

This is good news for the fisherman in the area, but scientists are happy to see the summer visitors too. Every summer the population of researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole balloons from 275 to over a thousand.

Many of these researchers focus on the Woods Hole squid and other marine organisms that may be at the center of medical research breakthroughs.

The squid is of particular interest to neuroscientists. By studying these squid over the years, scientists have learned how electrical signals are transmitted from cell to cell. Basic research has led to a better understanding of human diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and heart disease.

But wait, that's not all.

Scientists have interest in many other marine animals. Horseshoe crabs and skates are both good models for studying vision and blindness, neuroscientists study the nervous system of the oyster toadfish, and surf clams can give us insight on cancer and muscular dystrophy.

--Bjorn Carey

Credit: L.F. Bush/Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory