The Developmental Architecture of Wing Pattern Variation in Heliconius Erato

研究摘要：本项目将为新热带蝴蝶Heliconius erato开发一个基因芯片，并使用它来研究翅膀图案发育过程中基因表达的时空模式。 异翅蝎蛉的翅型色彩鲜艳，具有非凡的适应辐射，是研究选择、适应和形态分化的重要生态和进化模式。 这项研究将确定基因表达的差异如何与H. erato，以及在发育过程中颜色模式的不同元素的基因表达模式如何变化。 这项工作有望发现参与模式形成的新基因，并为理解遗传调控相互作用的变化如何导致形态多样化以及这些相互作用如何在进化辐射过程中被修改奠定基础。 在更一般的水平上，翼纹的形成和演变Heliconius是一个很好的模型系统概念化的发展机制的形成和多样化的更复杂的形态特征。 此外，由于蝴蝶翅膀图案形成的遗传网络可能很简单，因此该系统可以为从基因表达数据反向工程遗传调控网络提供强大的模型。 该项目是波多黎各大学和杜克大学研究人员之间的协同合作，将促进代表性不足的群体更广泛地参与科学，特别是在本科一级。 此外，由于其视觉上令人惊叹的图案和显着的进化辐射，Heliconius蝴蝶是促进一般保护和教育工作的优秀模型。

Summary of research:This project will develop a gene chip for the Neotropical butterfly Heliconius erato and use it to study the temporal and spatial patterning of gene expression during wing pattern development. Heliconius erato has undergone an extraordinary adaptive radiation in its vividly colored wing patterns and is an important ecological and evolutionary model for studying selection, adaptation and morphological differentiation. This research will determine how differences in gene expression are correlated with differences in pigmentation both within and between geographic races of H. erato, and how gene expression patterns for different elements of the color pattern change during development. This work is expected to uncover new genes involved in pattern formation and lays the groundwork for understanding how changes in genetic regulatory interactions cause morphological diversification and about how these interactions are modified during an evolutionary radiation. On a more general level, wing pattern formation and evolution in Heliconius is an excellent model system for conceptualizing the developmental mechanisms underlying the formation and diversification of more complex morphological traits. In addition, because the genetic networks underlying wing pattern formation in butterflies may be simple, this system could provide a powerful model for reverse engineering of genetic regulatory networks from gene expression data. This project is a synergistic collaboration between researchers at the University of Puerto Rico and Duke University and will promote a broader participation of underrepresented groups in science, particularly at the undergraduate level. Furthermore, given their visually stunning patterns and remarkable evolutionary radiation, Heliconius butterflies are excellent models to promote general conservation and educational efforts.