Inheritance And Diversification Of Symbiotic Trichonymphid Flagellates From A Common Ancestor Of Termites And The Cockroach Cryptocercus

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 24 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Wood-feeding termites and cockroaches harbour obligate, diverse and unique symbiotic cellulolytic flagellates responsible for digestion of recalcitrant cellulose.

The acquisition of the symbionts is critical in the development of their social behaviour.

The first comprehensive and comparative study on molecular phylogeny of the formidably stubborn symbionts of the key host insects put an end to the long-standing controversy concerning the origin of these symbionts.

The findings suggest that a set of symbionts that represent ancestors of extant symbiont groups was already established in an ancestor common to these wood-feeding insects and was vertically transmitted over generations.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

www.publishing.royalsociety.org/proceedingsb