✉news ScienceBiology first seen 3 h ago, last 17 min ago, peak #17
Beetles Repurpose Pigment Gene to Build Homes for Bacteria
Original: Beetles Repurpose a Famous Pigment Gene to Build Homes for Their Bacteria
Researchers report that beetles use a gene famous for its role in pigmentation for a completely different purpose: constructing specialized structures that house symbiotic bacteria. The finding highlights how evolution can repurpose existing genes for new jobs, in this case turning a pigment-related gene into an architectural tool for insect-bacterial partnerships, drawing interest from biologists studying symbiosis and gene function.
Why now: New research reveals an unexpected evolutionary repurposing of a well-known pigment gene, fascinating biologists.
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