《科学》杂志主编唐纳德·肯尼丹论述2001年度的重大科技进展

每一年 ,《Ｓｃｉｅｎｃｅ》杂志的编辑们都要聚在一起讨论该年度重大科技进展的提名问题。面对众多的新发现 ,往往是很具有挑战性的。今年我们遇到了一个尤为困难的任务 :找到一个能够和果蝇以及其他生命体的基因组测序相当的科技成就。果蝇以及其他生命体的基因组测序这项成果不仅仅席卷了去年的重大科技进展奖 ,而且它还导致了众多的后续项目 ,这决不亚于人类基因组草图的发表。这些后续的成功成了本年度科学中无人认领的珍宝中的一部分 ,而且就像去年一样完好的保存着。本年度重大科技进展的提名像去年的一样使人难忘 ,它涉及了从纳米技…     

Chemical basis of pupal cannibalism in a caterpillar (Utetheisa ornatrix).

The moth Utetheisa ornatrix derives protection against predation from systemic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that it sequesters as a larva from its foodplants (Leguminosae, Crotalaria spp.). We here show, in laboratory tests, that Utetheisa deficient in body PA can make up for the chemical shortfall by cannibalizing pupae. We present evidence indicating that cannibalism in larvae is elicited not by hunger, but possibly by PA deficiency itself, and that in making cannibalistic choices larvae prefer PA-containing over PA-free pupae. PAs themselves, either in crystalline form or as additives to food items, proved phagostimulatory to larvae. In nature Utetheisa tend to pupate away from their foodplant, essentially out of reach of larval attack. The threat of cannibalism may have contributed to the evolution of this pupation behavior.