Whiteflies weaponize a plant defense via horizontal gene transfer.

Whiteman, Noah K; Tarnopol, Rebecca L · Cell · 2021

editorial · Level V

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Abstract

Co-opting enemy weapons is a proven strategy in warfare. The war of nature is no different. In this issue of Cell, Xia and colleagues show how a major crop pest stole a plant phenolic glucoside malonyltransferase gene, allowing neutralization of a large class of plant defense compounds.

Medical subject headings