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Health & Science4h 8m ago
A new study found that cockroaches are riddled with DNA transferred from another species, specifically from their endosymbiont bacterial partners, Blattabacterium.
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Australia
Who
cockroaches, Blattabacterium cuenoti, researchers
What
A new study found that cockroaches are riddled with DNA transferred from another species, specifically from their endosymbiont bacterial partners, Blattabacterium.
When
Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:20:08 GMT · 4h 8m ago
Where
Australia ·
Why
The study aimed to get a clearer picture of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) by measuring the true scale of bacterial DNA transfer from an obligate symbiont into an animal genome.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
This research provides a better understanding of how horizontal gene transfer, previously thought to be less common in complex organisms, can shape genome evolution in animals like cockroaches. The presence of extensive bacterial DNA inserts, some dating back millions of years, suggests potential functional roles or long-term persistence in host genomes.
Story chain
4 events in this thread- Health & Science4h 8m agoA new study reports that cockroaches are riddled with DNA transferred from their endosymbiont bacterial partners, Blattabacterium cuenoti.Open article
- Health & Science4h 8m agoA new study found that cockroach genomes are riddled with DNA transferred from their endosymbiont bacterial partners, Blattabacterium cuenoti, with some Australian burrowing cockroaches carrying more than 3,000 bacterial DNA inserts.Open article
- Currently Reading4h 8m agoA new study found that cockroaches are riddled with DNA transferred from another species, specifically from their endosymbiont bacterial partners, Blattabacterium.
- Health & Science4h 8m agoA new study found 40,485 Blattabacterium-derived DNA inserts across 18 various cockroach genomes, with some Australian burrowing cockroaches carrying over 3,000 bacterial DNA inserts each.Open article