--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John McCutcheon has worked out the…" description: "\"“John McCutcheon has worked out the origins of this weird hierarchy-and it's almost unbelievable in its twists and turns. It begins with Tremblaya, the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/ed-yong-14636_twists-and-turns_john-mccutcheon-has-worked-out-the-origi_1437637.jpg" --- # John McCutcheon has worked out the origins of this weird… ![“John McCutcheon has worked out the origins of this weird hierarchy-and it's almost unbelievable in its twists and turns. It begins with Tremblaya, the first of the two bacteria to colonise mealybugs. It became a permanent resident and, like many insect symbionts, it lost genes that were important…” quote by Ed Yong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/ed-yong-14636_twists-and-turns_john-mccutcheon-has-worked-out-the-origi_1437637.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/ed-yong-14636_twists-and-turns_john-mccutcheon-has-worked-out-the-origi_1437637.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/916/ed-yong-14636_twists-and-turns_john-mccutcheon-has-worked-out-the-origi_1437637.jpg) > ““John McCutcheon has worked out the origins of this weird hierarchy-and it's almost unbelievable in its twists and turns. It begins with Tremblaya, the first of the two bacteria to colonise mealybugs. It became a permanent resident and, like many insect symbionts, it lost genes that were important for a free-living existence. In the cosy confines of its new host, it could afford to get by with a more streamline genome. When Moranella joined this two-way symbiosis, Tremblaya could afford to lose even more genes, in the surety that the new arrival would pick up the slack. As long as a gene exists in one of the partners, the others can afford to lose it. These types of gene transfer are different to those that turned nematodes, into plant parasites, or those that sprinkled antibiotic genes into tick genomes. Here, the recipients don't gain beneficial abilities. Here, HGT is more about evacuating bacterial genes from a capsizing ship. It preserves genes that would otherwise be lost to the inevitable decay that afflicts symbiont genomes.”” [Ed Yong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-yong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Symbiotic bacteria in mealybugs exchange genes, allowing each to discard unnecessary DNA, preserving essential functions despite genome reduction. **In simple terms:** Bacteria share genes to keep needed functions while shedding extra DNA. Key Takeaway Embrace cooperation to retain essential capabilities. Themes symbiosis gene transfer cooperation evolution genome reduction Mood curious analytical thoughtful Type scientific educational informative When to use this quote - research on insect symbionts - teaching genetics - biotech applications - conserving microbial diversity Key Concepts horizontal gene transfer mutual dependence genomic streamlining Questions to Reflect On - How does gene sharing affect evolutionary stability? - What risks arise when one partner loses essential genes? A Different Perspective Complex interdependence may limit adaptability if partners fail. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bacteria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) [Twists and turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twists-and-turns/) ## Related quotes > [People who have lost relationships often wonder why they can't just let it be water under the bridge. It is water under the bridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-fairley/people-who-have-lost-relationships-often-wonder-why-they-can-t-just/) [Grant Fairley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-fairley/) > [“Revitalized and healthy, I started dreaming new dreams. I saw ways that I could make a significant contribution by sharing what I’ve learned. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-johnson/revitalized-and-healthy-i-started-dreaming-new-dreams-i-saw-ways-that/) [Whitney Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-johnson/) > [“Find your happiness, Miss. 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As it digests HMOs, B. infantis releases short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that feed an infant's gut cells - so while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-yong/it-earns-its-keep-as-it-digests-hmos-b-infantis-releases-short-chain/) [Ed Yong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-yong/) > [“When Hamiltonella's genome was sequenced, the real reason behind the bacterium's protective powers became apparent: about half of its DNA actually belonged to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-yong/when-hamiltonella-s-genome-was-sequenced-the-real-reason-behind-the/) [Ed Yong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-yong/) > [“For one group of wasps, the braconids, transferred genes have enabled a bizarre form of pest control. 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Every mouthful could bring in new microbes that digest a previously unbreakable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-yong/the-world-around-us-is-a-gigantic-reservoir-of-potential-microbial/) [Ed Yong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-yong/) [Explore all 46 Ed Yong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-yong/) ## More Bacteria quotes > [“Bacteria and viruses were the most effective allies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-hughes-galeano/bacteria-and-viruses-were-the-most-effective-allies/) [Eduardo Hughes Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-hughes-galeano/) > [...The large majority of those infectious microbes that cause us so much illness and pain are ANAEROBIC...a big word that means they live and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mccabe/the-large-majority-of-those-infectious-microbes-that-cause-us-so-much/) [Ed McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mccabe/) > [You can't just boss bacteria around like that," said the younger Mrs. Hempstock. 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Raup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-raup/) > [Human health should now be thought of as a collective property of the human-associate d microbiota, as one group of researchers recently concluded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/human-health-should-now-be-thought-of-as-a-collective-property-of-the/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) [Browse all 285 Bacteria quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bacteria/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“John McCutcheon has worked out the origins of this weird hierarchy-and it's almost unbelievable in its twists and turns. It begins with Tremblaya, the first of the two bacteria to colonise mealybugs. It became a permanent resident and, like many insect symbionts, it lost genes that were important for a free-living existence. In the cosy confines of its new host, it could afford to get by with a more streamline genome. When Moranella joined this two-way symbiosis, Tremblaya could afford to lose even more genes, in the surety that the new arrival would pick up the slack. As long as a gene exists in one of the partners, the others can afford to lose it. These types of gene transfer are different to those that turned nematodes, into plant parasites, or those that sprinkled antibiotic genes into tick genomes. Here, the recipients don't gain beneficial abilities. Here, HGT is more about evacuating bacterial genes from a capsizing ship. 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