Evolution
Photosynthesis-like process found in insects
Scientists say they've found evidence suggesting that the insect
'Acyrthosiphon pisum', a type of pea aphid, traps light to produce
adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the cellular energy currency that powers
biochemical reactions.
Aphids are almost unique among insects in their ability to synthesize pigments called carotenoids on their own (a species of
spider mites may do it too) and genes responsible for caretonoid
production had been discovered earlier. Many creatures rely on these
pigments for a variety of functions, such as maintaining a healthy
immune system and making certain vitamins, but all other animals must
obtain them through their diet. Entomologist Alain Robichon at the
Sophia Agrobiotech Institute in Sophia Antipolis, France, and his
colleagues suggest that, in aphids, these pigments can absorb energy
from the Sun and transfer it to the cellular machinery involved in
energy production.
Scientists we able to come to this
conclusion after studying the varying pigmentation pattern and the
corresponding energy levels- the orange aphids with high level of
carotenoids produce more energy than the white ones with almost no
carotenoids.
Maria Capovilla, another entomologist at the
Sophia Institute, insists that much more work is needed before
scientists can be sure that aphids truly photosynthesize (which strictly
requires carbon dioxide to be 'fixed' and turned into organic
compounds), but the findings certainly throw up that possibility.
Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/
http://www.nature.com/news/
http://
Image Source:http://
Photosynthesis-like process found in insects
Scientists say they've found evidence suggesting that the insect 'Acyrthosiphon pisum', a type of pea aphid, traps light to produce adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the cellular energy currency that powers biochemical reactions.
Aphids are almost unique among insects in their ability to synthesize pigments called carotenoids on their own (a species of
Scientists say they've found evidence suggesting that the insect 'Acyrthosiphon pisum', a type of pea aphid, traps light to produce adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the cellular energy currency that powers biochemical reactions.
Aphids are almost unique among insects in their ability to synthesize pigments called carotenoids on their own (a species of
spider mites may do it too) and genes responsible for caretonoid
production had been discovered earlier. Many creatures rely on these
pigments for a variety of functions, such as maintaining a healthy
immune system and making certain vitamins, but all other animals must
obtain them through their diet. Entomologist Alain Robichon at the
Sophia Agrobiotech Institute in Sophia Antipolis, France, and his
colleagues suggest that, in aphids, these pigments can absorb energy
from the Sun and transfer it to the cellular machinery involved in
energy production.
Scientists we able to come to this conclusion after studying the varying pigmentation pattern and the corresponding energy levels- the orange aphids with high level of carotenoids produce more energy than the white ones with almost no carotenoids.
Maria Capovilla, another entomologist at the Sophia Institute, insists that much more work is needed before scientists can be sure that aphids truly photosynthesize (which strictly requires carbon dioxide to be 'fixed' and turned into organic compounds), but the findings certainly throw up that possibility.
Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/
http://www.nature.com/news/
http://
Image Source:http://
Scientists we able to come to this conclusion after studying the varying pigmentation pattern and the corresponding energy levels- the orange aphids with high level of carotenoids produce more energy than the white ones with almost no carotenoids.
Maria Capovilla, another entomologist at the Sophia Institute, insists that much more work is needed before scientists can be sure that aphids truly photosynthesize (which strictly requires carbon dioxide to be 'fixed' and turned into organic compounds), but the findings certainly throw up that possibility.
Source: http://beforeitsnews.com/
http://www.nature.com/news/
http://
Image Source:http://
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