butterfly – BioQuakes

The beautiful Heliconius butterflies from Central and South Africa are known for their colorful wing patterns. Some of their wing patterns mimic that of other species to protect them from their predators. There is one species of these evolutionary marvels, Heliconius cydno, that scientists have found that the activation of a single gene can determine whether the butterfly expresses white or yellow spots. To come to this conclusion scientists created a genetic map of H.cydno with both white and yellow coloring.

Through examining the genetic maps, the researchers found that the gene al1 was switched on in the white colored butterflies which would mean that al1 gene was correlated to the production of yellow pigmentation. To test this the researchers used CRISPR (a gene editing tool) to switch off the al1 gene in what was supposed to be white spotted butterfly embryo. They found that by switching off that gene the butterflies developed with yellow spots.

The researchers that carried out this experiment also looked into the evolutionary history of these butterflies since this experiment didn’t add pigmentation to the butterflies but changed an ancestrally present pigment by switching off a gene through CRISPR. They studied the al1 gene to butterflies that are closely related to the Heliconius species and found that white version of the spots is a recent development and that H.cyndo was first species to develop the white spots.

After further examination, there was evidence that the white version of the spots corresponds to matting patterns. So, the white spotted H.cydno males preferred to mate with the white spotted H.cyndo females and vise versa with the yellow spotted H.cydno males to H.cydno females. Which begs the question of what roles does the activation of al1 play in not only the coloration of these butterflies but also evolutionarily going forward? If gene activation through CRISPR continues how will that also affect the future mating patterns of these butterflies but possible of other species too?

Brand New Species of Butterfly Discovered

By cjobios

On November 21, 2013

In Student Post

A new species of butterfly has been discovered in Texas, earlier this spring. Named after it’s founder’s wife, the Vicroy’s Ministreak (it’s scientific name is Ministrymon Janevicroy), went unnoticed as a “new” breed because it was mistaken for the Gray Ministreak, due to the similarity of appearance between the two butterfly species. The trademark difference of the Vicroy’s Ministreak, however, is it’s olive green eye. The Gray Ministreak is known for having a dark brown to black eye coloring. Other differences between he two species include the patterns on their wings as well as differences in genital structures. Some of these differences were noticed when both butterflies were examined when dead. The founder, Jeffrey Glassberg, mostly used a new method of study to differentiate between the two Vicroy and Gray Ministreaks; he used cameras and binoculars, instead of the standard net.

The Vicroy’s Ministreak can be found in greater population in southern America and even reaching down to Central America, in “dry deciduous forest and scrub.” They have also been spotted in fewer population some of the northern South American countries. This new species is thought to be among the last that will be discovered in North America.

For additional information about this new breed of butterfly, please check out the following websites:

http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/article/5081/abstract/a-butterfly-with-olive-green-eyes-discovered-in-the-united-states-and-the-neotropics-lepidoptera-lycaenidae-eumaeini-

and

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/valley/article_ec43e8c4-c8cf-11e2-9218-001a4bcf6878.html.

Blue Morpho Butterfly Wings: More Than Just Pretty Faces

By karbonkim

On September 25, 2013

In Student Post

The beauty of butterflies, especially their wings, has captivated many a person. One butterfly, the Blue Morpho, has particularly stunning iridescent wings. Besides their beauty, these wings feature a unique characteristic, which could led to a variety of innovative technologies. Funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a team of researchers from the University of Exeter along with General Electric (GE) Global Research Center, University at Albany and Air Force Research Laboratory, has found the Morpho butterfly’s wings to include a physical structure and surface chemistry that provide amazing properties, which could present a diverse set of applications such as photonic security tags, self cleaning surfaces, protective clothing or industrial sensors. As noted in the journal PNAS, the study discovered that vapor molecules adhere differently to the top of the nanostructures on the scales of Morpho wings than to the bottom. A by-product of its wing scale development, this selectiveness to vapor molecules is what allows for the various bio-inspired technological applications described above. Dr. Radislav Potyrailo of GE and the Principal Investigator for this research program reported that this interdisciplinary team “unveil[ed] the existence of surface polarity gradient on the…butterfly scales,” which then allowed for the “multivariable perspective for vapor sensing, where selectivity is achieved with a single chemically graded nanostructured sensing unit, rather than from an array of separate sensors.”

In speaking about the iridescent properties of butterflies and moths and their relation to natural photonics, Professor Pete Vukusic of the University of Exeter said, “design ideas from nature [allow us] to work towards the development of applications in a range of different technologies.” I agree with this statement and believe it is important to not only come up with new technologies based on man-made ideas, but also from the natural phenomenons that already occur.

Do you know of any similar adaptions of natural properties? What are some of those naturally inspired technological (or other) innovations?

Photography credit: Ken Slade -http://www.flickr.com/photos/texaseagle/7023938029/in/photostream/

Article reference: http://goo.gl/EyvMUa

BioQuakes

AP Biology class blog for discussing current research in Biology

Tag: butterfly

Gene Editing in Butterflies: What Could This Mean for Their Mating Patterns ?

Brand New Species of Butterfly Discovered

Blue Morpho Butterfly Wings: More Than Just Pretty Faces

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