Insects such as,
aphids can be anatomically mutated at birth causing some males species to die.
A recent study indicates that this unit of species can also capture sunlight,
similar to photosynthesis, and transform this energy for metabolic purposes.
Like animals, aphids have the ability to synthesize carotenoid pigments. Many
species rely on these specific pigments for necessary survival functions. Entomologist Alain Robichon and several of his colleagues
at the Sophia Agrobiotech Institute in Sophia Antipolis, France, suggested
that, in aphids, these particular pigments absorb sunlight and transfer that
energy to the cellular machinery involved in energy production. Researches
measured ATP levels in aphids and discovered that green aphids, which contained
high levels of carotenoids, produce a significant amount more ATP than white
aphids. With this in mind, ATP production increased even more when orange
aphids, which contained a moderate amount of carotenoids, were observed over
lighted areas. Insect geneticist, Nancy Moran, revealed the original discovery
of carotenoid production in aphids, however, she says that there are still many
unanswered inquiries.
* Information obtained at www.scientificamerican.com
* Pictures obtained at www.npr.org & www.itsokaytobesmart.com
Figure 4.1
Figure 4.2
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