Would You Become Something You Eat Most? It sounds like a silly question, but apparently, the brilliant emerald green sea slug, Elysia chlorotica, manages to do that. Although this green little guy does have a lot in common with the green leaves, they are totally different from their nature. And according to some scientist, “There is no way on earth that genes from an alga should work inside an animal cell.” But in fact, it seems like the green sea slug has hijacked enough plant genes to become the first animal who is able to produce chlorophyll just like a plant – rely on sunshine for its nutrition. It still a complete mystery how it manages to do that, but it won’t stop making this little emerald animal a super star – who is known as the only example of functional gene transfer from one multi-cellular species to another. Such an amazing world!
Photo credit: Patrick Krug
Photo credit: Patrick Krug
Photo credit: Karen N. Pelletreau et al, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit: Patrick Krug