Melanism: Cryptic control by non-coding RNAs

Richard H Ffrench-Constant; Alex Hayward

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.023

Melanism: Cryptic control by non-coding RNAs

Curr Biol. 2024 Oct 7;34(19):R901-R904. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.023.

Authors

Richard H Ffrench-Constant¹, Alex Hayward²

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK. Electronic address: rf222@exeter.ac.uk.
² Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK. Electronic address: alex.hayward@exeter.ac.uk.

PMID: 39378849
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.05.023

Abstract

Melanism drives both crypsis and mimicry in butterflies and moths. To date, melanism has been mapped to a structural gene called cortex, but now more detailed work shows that in fact it is controlled by non-coding RNAs at the same locus.

MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Mimicry
Butterflies* / genetics
Butterflies* / physiology
Moths / genetics
Moths / physiology
Pigmentation / genetics
RNA, Untranslated* / genetics

Substances

RNA, Untranslated