Did Bacteria Transfer Genes to Asp Caterpillars to Produce Unique Venom?

[jim mcnamara]

TL;DR Summary

Horizontal gene transfer is the incorporation of a gene sequence from one species to another unrelated species - in the case fuzzy caterpillars possibly from bacteria

Popular Science: https://www.sciencealert.com/this-fuzzy-caterpillar-conceals-a-venom-unlike-any-ever-seen-in-insects (pictures).
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2305871120

Asp caterpillars have a very powerful venom under their surface "fuzzies". The discussion focuses on some important points:

1. Gene transfer may have occurred between bacteria and the distant ancestors of the moths. This is an extreme example. See the paper for discussion on this point.

2. Unique powerful venoms often lead to medical breakthroughs. This venom is especially unusual.

If nothing else, take a look at the article(s) to see a very interesting fuzzball caterpillar. And do not ever think of touching a live one....

 

[BillTre]

Horizontal gene transfer also has a wider meaning than transfers between different species.

Generally, the horizontalicity is in contrast to vertical inheritance going from parents to offspring.
This would include:

• bacteria or archaea picking up DNA from their environment and incorporating it into their genome (this occurs only rarely in eukaryotes).
• bacteria (or archaeal) sex between different bacterial "species".
• viruses (or other parasites) picking up bits of DNA in one organism and them copying it into the genome of a different host (prokaryote or eukayote). It doesn't have to be a different species, but it would be much easier to identify if it were.
• DNA obtined by one species by eating another and randomly incorporating some of its DNA instead of digesting it.
• lab experiments moving DNA from one organism to another.

Hybridization can transfer DNA between what are often considered different species, but it is not horizontal gene transfer because it moves DNA around by the "normal" mechanisms involved in gene transmission between generations.