Small creatures pilfer genes from bacteria to create antibiotics – Earth.com

Tiny animals steal genes from bacteria to produce antibiotics

In a fascinating discovery, researchers have found that tiny animals known as bdelloid rotifers have the ability to steal genes from bacteria in order to produce antibiotics. This finding sheds light on the incredible adaptability and resourcefulness of these microscopic creatures.

Bdelloid rotifers are multicellular organisms that are only about half a millimeter in size. Despite their small stature, they have managed to survive for millions of years by developing unique strategies to protect themselves from harmful bacteria. One of these strategies involves acquiring genes from bacteria that allow them to produce their own antibiotics.

The researchers discovered that bdelloid rotifers have a gene called PKS, which is responsible for producing a compound known as rotenone. Rotenone is a potent antibiotic that helps the rotifers fend off bacterial infections. What is truly remarkable is that this gene was not originally present in the rotifers‘ genome – it was acquired from bacteria through a process known as horizontal gene transfer.

Horizontal gene transfer is a phenomenon where genetic material is transferred between different species. In the case of the bdelloid rotifers, they have somehow managed to incorporate genes from bacteria into their own genome, allowing them to produce antibiotics that help them survive in their environment.

This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of evolution and the ways in which organisms adapt to their surroundings. It shows that even tiny animals like bdelloid rotifers have the ability to acquire new genes and traits that enhance their survival chances.

Furthermore, this finding could have important implications for the field of medicine. By studying how bdelloid rotifers acquire and use antibiotic-producing genes, researchers may be able to develop new strategies for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria that pose a threat to human health.

Overall, the discovery that tiny animals like bdelloid rotifers can steal genes from bacteria to produce antibiotics is a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of life on Earth. It highlights the complex and interconnected nature of biological systems and opens up new avenues for research in evolutionary biology and medicine.