Most of the phenotypic traits in nature are controlled by multiple genes, so finding one gene that i
Most of the phenotypic traits in nature are controlled by multiple genes, so finding one gene that is a master regulator of how something looks is quite a rarity. Well, it turns out that there is exactly such a master regulator that controls the wing colour of the butterflies in the Nymphalidae family. A gene called optix regulates both the patterns on and the colours of the butterfly wings and also determines the expression of that distinctive blue iridescence in some Nymphalidae species.You can read the study hereDrawing from Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies -- source link
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