Research teams from the University of Valencia and the University of Tours discover that genes originating from parasitic wasps are present in the genomes of many butterflies. These genes were acquired through a wasp-associated virus that integrates into DNA.
Wasp genes have now been domesticated and likely play a role in in protecting butterflies against other pathogenic viruses. These results reveal that butterflies, including the Monarch, an iconic species for naturalists and well-known for its spectacular migrations, constitute naturally produced GMOs during the course of evolution. This finding relativizes the novelty of producing GM insects, since such insects already exist in nature but also highlights that genes introduced in GM insects can be transferred between distant species.
More information is available here: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-09/p-no091015.php
