 The study investigated the evolution of antiviral defense in ectosozone invertebrates. It found that the ancestral form of the gene dyser, which is responsible for antiviral defense, had the ability to hydrolyze ATP, break down ATP molecules. However, this ability was lost in the vertebrate lineage, likely due to a decrease in ATP affinity. This decrease in ATP affinity was caused by changes in two regions of the protein, one near the active site and another further away. The authors suggest that these changes may have been beneficial for the vertebrate lineage as it allowed them to compete with dyser for viral dsRNA, thus allowing the vertebrate lineage to evolve without being hindered by antiviral defense. This article was authored by Adedigie M. Adoramu, P. Joseph Oraskovic, Brian Kalakskowski, and others.