Scientists have discovered a new way that certain plants produce complex chemicals. Researchers at the University of York found that a plant known as Flueggea suffruticosa uses a gene very similar to those found in bacteria to create a substance called securinine.

This suggests that plants may borrow and reuse tools from microbes to build their own defensive chemicals. The discovery provides a new roadmap for finding useful natural compounds. It could eventually allow scientists to manufacture medicines in a lab rather than harvesting them from wild plants. These findings might also help researchers understand how plants grow and how to develop hardier, more resilient crops.