How do Venus flytraps detect and trap their prey?

One of the genes responsible for the Venus flytrap’s closing mechanism has been identified, representing a breakthrough in the understanding of plant mechanoreceptors. The infamous Venus flytrap – the pinnacle of interest for any school botany lesson, adorning the windowsills of biology teachers around the world – never fails to fascinate.  Little is known about the mechanoreceptors responsible for the snapping function that makes the plant so famous. That is, until now... A team of researchers, led by Rainer Hedrich at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (Germany), has set out to investigate the closing mechanism and rectify this knowledge gap. Building on...