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becky-c.bsky.social
@becky-c.bsky.social
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plosbiology.org
Wiring the sexes: @evolvwing.bsky.social &co use CRISPR knockouts & single-nucleus transcriptomics to decipher the regulatory logic of #SexualDimorphism in sulphur #butterflies, where males display bright UV colors thanks to specialized iridescent scales @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/445Iz7d
Left: Scanning electron micrograph of two male-specific scale types found on the wings of male sulphur butterflies, with UV-iridescent scales (pink) and brown lanceolate scale from the marginal region. Image credit: Arnaud Martin / The George Washington University. Right: UV coloration, which is invisible to the human eye, is used as a male courtship signal in orange sulphur butterflies, shown here in magenta. Butterfly wings consist of two layers of microscopic scales, and in UV-iridescent butterflies, the upper layer harbors unique optical properties. These scales reflect ultraviolet thanks to complex layers of chitin on their surfaces, a nanostructure that resembles Christmas trees and is absent from non-UV scales. Image credit: Illustration by Julie Johnson/Life Science Studios (CC-BY license agreement provided to Arnaud Martin)
June 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM