Becoming What We Eat!

Somebody has said, "You are what you eat." A species of whiteflies have taken this saying somewhat literally. Bemisia tobaci, a species of whitefly has acquired genes from the plants that it eats into its own genome. This gene transfer has blessed the whitefly with the ability to neutralize a toxin that some plants produce to defend against insects. We can describe this miracle as a 'jump' of genes from plant to animal. 

Horizontal gene transfer is a phenomenon in which genes are passed between separate branches on life's tree. The special thing about gene transfer is the transfer of genes from an organism to another such organism which is not its offspring. It is mainly known to occur between various species of bacteria. In fact, you can say it is important for bacteria because it is what helps them spread antibiotic resistance. Gene transfer plays an important role in the evolution of bacteria that can degrade novel compounds such as human-created pesticides and in the evolution, maintenance, and transmission of virulence. Bacteriophages are the major cause of horizontal gene transfers in bacteria. Other agents could be plasmids or jumping genes. This gene transfer even causes bacteria to change their phenotype. 

As we have observed the first case of horizontal gene transfer from some plant to an animal, there are chances of more discoveries in this area. Who knows we might be acquiring genes from what we eat! What could be the consequences if such horizontal gene transfer occurs from some virus to the zygotic cell? We Better not imagine!

Magazine Editor,

MICROBIOL,

RSML.