Domesticated silkworms’ secrets

Scientists identify genes involved in the taming and farming of wild caterpillars

A sampling of today’s domesticated silkworms reveals a rich tapestry of genes, suggesting that a lot of individuals were tamed during a relatively short time, scientists report online August 27 in Science.

SILKWORM SECRETS Unraveling silkworm DNA reveals genetic differences between wild silkworms (top) and their domesticated relatives (bottom).