Gopher (IMAGE)

Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

Gopher

Caption

A gopher (Geomiydae) pulls a branch of Nicotiana attenuata into its nest. In nature, the plants are well protected against mammalian herbivory by nicotine, a neurotoxic substance. If the plants lack the hormone that regulates nicotine production, they become an attractive food source for many mammals, as shown in experiments with genetically modified plants.

Credit

Arne Weinhold, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology

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