In vivo visualization of butterfly scale cell morphogenesis in Vanessa cardui.

ABSTRACT: During metamorphosis, the wings of a butterfly sprout hundreds of thousands of scales with intricate microstructures and nano-structures that determine the wings' optical appearance, wetting characteristics, thermodynamic properties, and aerodynamic behavior. Although the functional characteristics of scales are well known and prove desirable in various applications, the dynamic processes and temporal coordination required to sculpt the scales' many structural features remain poorly understood. Current knowledge of scale growth is primarily gained from ex vivo studies of fixed scale cells at discrete time points; to fully understand scale formation, it is critical to characterize the time-dependent morphological changes throughout their development. Here, we report the continuous, in vivo,

SUBMITTER: McDougal AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8670486 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature