Tiny aphids act like a plant and trap light to convert to energy

Latest finding:

Tiny aphids act like a plant and trap light to convert to energy

They might be one of the only animals to mimic these photosynthesis-like abilities.

A tiny insect called the pea aphid might be one of the only animals to turn sunlight into energy like a plant.

Scientists say they’ve found evidence suggesting that the insect (Acyrthosiphon pisum) traps light to produce adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the cellular energy currency that powers biochemical reactions. (For animals, cells typically convert energy from food into ATP, while plants make ATP via photosynthesis.).

Scientists have found that like plants, sap-sucking pea aphids (shown here) can trap light and use it to make ATP, an energy molecule, though they aren’t sure what the insects use the energy for.

Courtesy: Shipher Wu / National Taiwan U. via PLOS Biology

 

Tiny aphids act like a plant and trap light to convert to energy'