title: Evolutionary genetics: no coming back from neverland.
abstract: Host-plant specialization plays a key role in insect evolution, but little is known about its molecular basis. A new paper shows that a cactus-feeding fly became restricted to its host by changes in an enzyme that converts dietary sterols into essential hormones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolution, Center for Population Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA. akopp@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Artyom
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029421:Cactaceae; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004330:Drosophila / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D060434:Herbivory
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C516399:nvd protein, Drosophila; C001521:lathosterol; D002784:Cholesterol