Farmers may rule above insects
for many decades but in the future, they may need to think up a new solution to
pests as pesticides may become useless. In
a research by a team of researchers in Japan, pesticide resistance in insects
is discovered. However, what surprised
the researchers the most is that the resistance is not the result of evolution written
in the genes but by a symbiotic relationship between the insects and bacteria.
Fenitrothion is a common
pesticide used in agriculture but this toxin is fed on by Burkholderia
bacteria. The bacteria will break down
the toxin into carbon that will be fed.
The researchers have soil filled with the toxin and with the
bacteria. Then bean bugs called
Riptortus pedestris, is grown in the soil.
The bugs should have been killed by the fenitrothion but it
survived. Upon close analysis, instead
of changes within the genes, the bacteria saved the bugs. They live inside the bugs and returning the
favor, they break down the toxin.
This symbiotic relationship is worrisome
since it happens in a short duration compared to evolution. Evolution will take many generations to
happen but this symbiosis happens in an instant. The bacteria can also spread to other places.
This research demonstrated how
organisms will adapt to survive and in this case, the bugs have a symbiotic
relationship with bacteria to survive instead of relying on evolution. This may become a huge problem in the future
but with the way things are at the moment, very few insects are combating
insecticides with this method.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/340213/title/Bacteria%2C_insects_join_forces_against_pesticide_
Powell, Devin. "Bacteria, insects join forces against pesticide ." ScienceNews MAGAZINE OF THE SOCIETY FOR SCIENCE & THE PUBLIC. 23 April 2012: n. page. Web. 7 May. 2012. <http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/340213/title/Bacteria,_insects_join_forces_against_pesticide_>.
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