Fact of The Day – Scientists Altered Butterfly Wing Patterns

There are currently more than 20,000 different species of butterflies worldwide and in each region there are more than 20 different wing patterns that exist. Scientists conducted research to find out if they could alter the gene which is responsible for the way butterflies look, and wanted to find out what effect this would have on butterflies’ appearances.

The first step in their research was discovering that the WntA gene is responsible for the butterflies’ appearances. They then used the CRISPR technique to find and edit this gene in butterfly eggs. They made the WntA gene inactive and monitored them until after they became butterflies and found that the editing of this gene. Comparisons between the modified and unmodified butterfly wings were made. They discovered that making the WntA gene inactive significantly alters the appearance of butterfly wings.