How butterflies choose mates: Gene controls preferences

Evolutionary biologists have now exploited the diversity of warning patterns of various Heliconius species to investigate the genetic foundations of these preferences. In the process, the scientists identified a gene that is directly linked to evolutionary changes in a visually guided behavior.butterflies are well known for the bright colour patterns on their wings.

Using genomic analyses, the researchers demonstrated that the preference for red females is associated with a genomic region where hybridization between these two red species has resulted in sharing of genetic material."We managed to identifyas a key gene controlling visual preference, in these butterflies," says Matteo Rossi, who carried out research on the butterflies in Merrill's lab alongside fellow PhD candidate Alexander Hausmann."Ifsometime in their evolutionary past.

Like many poisonous animals, the African monarch butterfly's orange, white and black pattern warns predators that it is toxic. Warning patterns like this are usually consistent across individuals to ... An international team of scientists working with Heliconius butterflies in Panama was faced with a mystery: how do pairs of unrelated butterflies from Peru to Costa Rica evolve nearly the same ...

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Gene-edited pigs immune to deadly virus could arrive on farms by next yearAndrew Paul is Popular Science‘s staff writer covering tech news. Previously, he was a regular contributor to The A.V. Club and Input, and has had recent work featured by Rolling Stone, Fangoria, GQ, Slate, NBC, as well as McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. He lives outside Indianapolis.
Source: PopSci - 🏆 298. / 63 Read more »

Gene therapy for pets: French company buys start-up cofounded by Penn’s Jim WilsonCeva Santé Animale is buying Scout Bio, which Wilson cofounded in 2018.
Source: PhillyDailyNews - 🏆 89. / 67 Read more »

Company Seeking Approval to Sell Meat From Gene-Hacked PigsScience and Technology News and Videos
Source: futurism - 🏆 85. / 68 Read more »

Gene-edited meat might be on the menu soonNew reports suggest it is very likely that you'll be able to buy gene-edited meat at the supermarket soon.
Source: BGR - 🏆 234. / 63 Read more »

Cracking epigenetic inheritance: Biologists discovered the secrets of how gene traits are passed onA research team has recently made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the DNA copying machine helps pass on epigenetic information to maintain gene traits at each cell division. Understanding how this coupled mechanism could lead to new treatments for cancer and other epigenetic diseases by targeting specific changes in gene activity.
Source: ScienceDaily - 🏆 452. / 53 Read more »

Star Trek: TNG — Why Gene Roddenberry Hated Patrick Stewart As PicardAll the latest movie news, movie trailers & reviews - and the same for TV, too.
Source: screenrant - 🏆 7. / 94 Read more »