Many of us fondly remember ant farms and the little picnic visitors of our childhoods. They were friendly and tiny and would cart off any bit of sugar that you threw their way. They’re pretty downright cute for things that can lift over 50 times their own weight. Science, however, has a way of making things a little bigger and a little badder. They’ve taken normal sized soldier ants and made them bigger and stronger, forming what’s called the Supersoldier Ant.

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Yes, these small ants have undergone the Captain America treatment, becoming bigger, faster, and stronger (but no more or less patriotic). The key, scientists say, was inside the ants all along. By dabbing normal ant larvae with a special hormone, scientists activated a set of special genes within the ants. These genes create an ant with a much larger head and pincers. Looking at them, you’d think you’d activated Big Head Mode on an old video game. However, their size served a purpose. Supersoldier ants still exist naturally, although rare, in the deserts of America and Mexico. Their job within the colony is to block the nest entrance if an intruder approaches. Their larger size makes them capable of fighting bigger enemies too.

For certain colonies in dangerous environments that house a lot of predators, the Supersoldier ants are vital members. It’s unclear, however, what scientists will do with this research. Unlocking these genes has proved, however, that gaining access to the ancient genes we’ve long evolved past can shape the future. Check out more at the Daily Mail.