First of all, thanks to @jacinta sevilla for her very instructive and motivating work, my work refers specifically to the theme of the multiple colours of the butterfly's wings, thanks to the new research carried out by scientists who had believed that the colour of the butterfly's wings was the consequence of a complex combination of genes that, together, gave rise to a multicoloured final result.
But according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it says that it is only one gene that determines the color of butterfly wings. However, according to the study, this piece of genetic information can develop very different roles in different species, resulting in multiple color combinations.
The scientists used CRISPR technology, invented in 2012, a tool that allows DNA to be cut anywhere in the genome, thus eliminating the effect of some genes.
Thus, the experts found that it was the WntA gene - also called the'paint gene' - that was responsible for colouring the wings of butterflies, as they found that turning it off extinguishes the colour of the wings, making these insects monochromatic and darker.
However, the study, which focuses on the role of this gene, which is activated at the caterpillar stage before the wings develop, provides new insights into how genetics and evolution have shaped the biodiversity of ecosystems.
I present the multicolored butterfly made with colored pencils and chalk to give a sensation of movement, I hope you like it.
