Old Genes Can Learn New Tricks, Horned Beetles Show

A popular view among evolutionary biologists that fundamental genes do not acquire new functions has been challenged by a new study. Biologists report that two ancient genes were "co-opted" to help build a new trait in beetles -- the fancy antlers that give horned beetles their name. The genes touch most aspects of insect larval development, and have therefore been considered off-limits to the evolution of new traits.

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