"Photosynthesis" in Aphids

[johnnyboy]

Recent Article in Nature

www.nature.com/news/first-evidence-for-photosynthesis-in-insects-1.11214

Even if true this wouldn't represent photosynthesis in insects as there is no production of sugars using sunlight as energy.


Johnny

[jshuey]

Aug 20, 2012 4:29:33 GMT -8 johnnyboy said:

Even if true this wouldn't represent photosynthesis in insects as there is no production of sugars using sunlight as energy.

Indeed - the authors don't claim photosynthesis - but rather say that the aphids photosynthesize. One is a fairly specific set of reactions that produce sugars, the other implies that sunlight is captured and stored as energy in general - not specifying the exact pathway.