Butterflies and moths reuse same genes for warning colours over 120 million years
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · May 4
Butterflies and moths reuse same genes for warning colours over 120 million years
13 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · May 4
An international team led by the University of York and Wellcome Sanger Institute examined seven South American butterfly lineages and a day-flying moth.
They found the ivory and optix genes repeatedly produced near-identical mimicry patterns, with evolution changing regulatory switches rather than the genes themselves; one moth also used a DNA inversion.
Published in PLOS Biology, the study suggests convergent evolution can follow recurring genetic pathways, potentially helping scientists predict how species adapt to environmental and climate pressures.
Butterflies and moths recycled the same genetic tools for 120 million years. How much of life is built on ancient, reused code?
If evolution follows a predictable genetic script, can we now forecast how species will adapt to future climate change?
Nature uses 'supergenes' to fast-track evolution. Can we now copy this genetic trick to design climate-resilient crops?
How *ivory* and *optix* Genes Repeatedly Control Wing Pattern Mimicry Across 120 Million Years of Evolution
Overview
A groundbreaking 2026 study revealed that the evolution of warning color patterns in butterflies and moths is driven by the repeated use of two ancient genes, ivory and optix, across species separated by up to 120 million years. Evolution mainly modifies regulatory switches near these genes, enabling predictable and constrained changes in wing patterns. In some species, large chromosomal inversions lock beneficial gene combinations, ensuring stable inheritance. This genetic predictability supports the formation of mimicry rings that enhance survival by deterring predators. However, climate change and habitat loss threaten these systems, highlighting the need for conservation strategies focused on preserving genetic diversity and key species to maintain ecosystem stability.