title: Pattern formation and eyespot determination in butterfly wings.
abstract: Butterfly wings display pattern elements of many types and colors. To identify the molecular processes underlying the generation of these patterns, several butterfly cognates of Drosophila appendage patterning genes have been cloned and their expression patterns have been analyzed. Butterfly wing patterns are organized by two spatial coordinate systems. One system specifies positional information with respect to the entire wing field and is conserved between fruit flies and butterflies. A second system, superimposed on the general system and involving several of the same genes, operates within each wing subdivision to elaborate discrete pattern elements. Eyespots, which form from discrete developmental organizers, are marked by Distal-less gene expression. These circular pattern elements appear to be generated by a process similar to, and perhaps evolved from, proximodistal pattern formation in insect appendages.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Madison, WI.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Keys
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Paddock
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Panganiban
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Selegue
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002080:Butterflies / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D017344:Genes, Insect; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000254:growth & development*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development*; D051155:Wnt1 Protein
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C074459:ap protein, Drosophila; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C087983:inv protein, Drosophila; C087984:sd protein, Drosophila; C074622:wg protein, Drosophila