By identifying the genes that are playing keys in all of this process, they've also provided some new avenues for follow ups to glean more details about how the system works. However, in terms of evolution, this initial picture tells a familiar story. Fireflies didn't necessarily evolve anything completely new to create the light producing organ in their abdomen. Instead, once the basic pieces were in place, they came under the control of the homeobox genes that were already active and the identity of the different abdominal segments
Random tidbit for anyone's listening pleasure. Did you know that the lightning bugs in North America, for example, blink somewhat randomly, it seems, but in other parts of the world, they blink in synchronization, also randomly. I learned that one there is no naturally occurring bioluminescent plant. However, they have now created a luminescent plant by using bioluminescence from mushrooms. And if you would like one, you can buy one for the low, low price of $29. It
