MicrobeWorld

Normally, animals get their DNA from their parents. But a new study shows that they can also get genes from another species. In fact, animals can even take genes from creatures outside of the animal kingdom — like from fungi. And that's pretty surprising.

"The idea that animals picked up DNA from microbes — until recently that was thought to be nonexistent," says John Werren, an evolutionary geneticist from the University of Rochester.

But new research shows that it can happen. Researchers found evidence in a tiny insect called the pea aphid. MORE