A Model for Selection of Eyespots on Butterfly Wings.

ABSTRACT:

Unsolved problem

The development of eyespots on the wing surface of butterflies of the family Nympalidae is one of the most studied examples of biological pattern formation.However, little is known about the mechanism that determines the number and precise locations of eyespots on the wing. Eyespots develop around signaling centers, called foci, that are located equidistant from wing veins along the midline of a wing cell (an area bounded by veins). A fundamental question that remains unsolved is, why a certain wing cell develops an eyespot, while other wing cells do not.

Key idea and model

We illustrate that the key to understanding focus point selection may be in the venation system of the wing disc. Our main hypothesis is that changes in morphogen concentration along the

SUBMITTER: Sekimura T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4633216 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature