Development, plasticity and evolution of butterfly eyespot patterns

摘要: The developmental and genetic bases for the formation, plasticity diversity of eyespot patterns in butterflies are examined. Eyespot pattern mutants, regulatory gene expression, transplants organizer demonstrate that position, number, size colour determined progressively a pathway largely uncoupled from those regulating other wing-pattern elements body structures. Species comparisons selection experiments suggest evolution can occur rapidly through modulation different stages this pathway, requires only single, or very few, changes genes.