ScienceSeptember 7, 2026
ecdysteroid
ek-DIS-tuh-royd
Definition
A class of steroid hormones found in arthropods that regulates molting and development, which researchers are studying for its potential role in how the fungus manipulates host behavior.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'ekdysis', meaning 'a getting out' or 'stripping off' (referring to molting), combined with 'steroid' to describe the hormone's chemical structure.
In the news
The article mentions a fungal gene resembling one that produces ecdysteroid-related enzymes, which may help the fungus manipulate the fly's behavior to climb to a high point.
In 1855, scientists discovered a fungus that turns flies into zombie hosts. More than 160 years later, its
Read the full article ↗The Economic Times