Scientists Solve Evolutionary Mystery of Butterfly and Moth Wing Colors

Butterfly and moth wing color variations, long attributed to the cortex gene, are actually controlled by a microRNA, mir-193, which represses pigmentation genes. This discovery, conserved across species, highlights the crucial role of non-coding RNAs in phenotypic diversity. Butterflies and moths (lepidopterans) display an extraordinary variety of wing color patterns, with many species showcasing black-and-white [...]

from SciTechDaily https://ift.tt/3rIxnNM