A new study from the University of Chicago’s Biological Sciences Division, published in PNAS, uncovers how a single “supergene” called doublesex enables swallowtail butterflies (Papilio alphenor) to mimic the wing patterns of toxic species and avoid predators. Led by research scientist Nicholas VanKuren, PhD, in the lab of Professor Marcus Kronforst, PhD, the team used genomic sequencing and CRISPR tools to reveal that differences in wing patterns between males and females stem not from changes in the gene’s protein structure, but from new regulatory DNA elements that alter how doublesex is expressed. These findings show that the doublesex gene can regulate itself and control other developmental genes to produce the striking mimicry seen in female butterflies. The study provides a new window into how genetic variation and evolutionary innovation shape biodiversity.
Read the full story here.