Reading the genome and understanding evolution: Symbioses and gene transfer in leaf beetles https://www.ice.mpg.de/488543/PR_Kirsch?c=95868
Symbiotic relationships with bacteria have evolved independently in different beetle lineages and are essential for efficient digestion of plant food. These relationships provide insights into how genetic material was exchanged between bacteria and beetles, with horizontal gene transfer – where foreign bacterial genes are integrated into the beetle genome – playing a key role. The study highlights the importance of microbial partnerships and genetic exchange in the dietary adaptations of leaf beetles, which have contributed to their evolutionary success.
From: Kirsch et al., Current Biology 2025. Created in BioRender.
