✉news ScienceBiology first seen 7 h ago, last 1 h ago, peak #17
Beetles Repurpose Famous Pigment Gene to Build Bacterial Homes
Original: Beetles Repurpose a Famous Pigment Gene to Build Homes for Their Bacteria
Researchers report that beetles have repurposed a well-known pigment gene to construct specialized structures that house symbiotic bacteria. The finding suggests an ancient gene involved in coloration has been co-opted for a new role in supporting microbial partners, offering an unusual example of how evolution recycles existing genetic tools for entirely different biological functions.
Why now: New research showing a famous pigment gene playing a role in insect-bacteria symbiosis is a striking example of evolutionary repurposing.
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