Nature

This insect makes its own sunscreen-like pigment using genes stolen from fungi

Pea aphids are the only animals known to manufacture their own carotenoid pigments, using genes horizontally transferred from fungi millions of years ago rather than getting them from food like every other animal. One study even found evidence the pigments help aphids harvest light energy, hinting at something like solar-powered metabolism in an insect.

Nancy A. Moran, Tyler Jarvik, Lateral Transfer of Genes from Fungi Underlies Carotenoid Production in Aphids — Science, 2010

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