How a stolen plant gene gave whiteflies a biological superpower

Science · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Whiteflies are prolific agricultural pests capable of attacking 600 different plant species. Scientists have discovered how they do it: they stole a gene from their victims. By incorporating plant DNA into their own genome, these insects can neutralize the very toxins meant to kill them.

For millions of years, plants have relied on toxic compounds to defend themselves from herbivores. However, a research team led by Youjun Zhang from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has uncovered a remarkable evolutionary workaround. They discovered that whiteflies possess a functional gene, known as BtPMaT1, which is actually a piece of stolen plant DNA. This evolutionary feat allows the insects to feed on various crops safely. Such an adaptation has turned these tiny pests into a significant threat to global agriculture.

This discovery, published in the journal Cell on March 25th, represents the first recorded instance of horizontal gene transfer where a functional gene moved from a plant into an insect. Scientists believe that roughly 35 million years ago, a virus may have acted as a middleman, carrying the BtPMaT1 gene from a plant into a whitefly after the insect ingested it. Once integrated into the insect's genome, the gene allowed the whitefly to degrade the plant's defensive toxins. This rare genetic event is considered an extremely unlikely occurrence. However, over billions of years, such beneficial mutations can become widespread through evolution.

In their original hosts, plants likely use BtPMaT1 to store noxious compounds in a harmless form to avoid self-poisoning. By hijacking this mechanism, whiteflies have become a major global pest. To combat this, researchers like Ted Turlings from the University of Neuchâtel are developing strategies to undo this advantage. By genetically manipulating tomato plants to produce specific small RNA molecules, scientists hope to interfere with the whiteflies' BtPMaT1 gene, stripping them of their stolen protection and making them susceptible to the plant's natural defenses once again. These RNA molecules essentially disrupt the insect's ability to detoxify its food. This method aims to restore the effectiveness of the plant's natural chemical warfare.

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