Image from Reed et al. (2011) optix drives the repeated convergent evolution of butterfly wing pattern mimicry. Science.

Dr. Robert Reed, Associate Professor in the EEB department at Cornell University, is presenting a talk titled, “Adaptation in technicolor!  The developmental genetic basis of butterfly wing pattern evolution” on Friday, October 19.  Regarding his research:  “Most of my work aims to uncover the genes and developmental processes that govern the diversification of animal color patterns. I want to know how development influences the range of variation that arises and is maintained in natural populations. I also want to know how, in turn, natural selection drives the evolution of developmental processes. Butterfly wing patterns are my study system of choice because they permit a beautiful integration of population biology, phylogenetics, ecology, and developmental genetics. Developing butterfly wings are easy to work with in the lab and we have a good grasp of the evolutionary pressures driving wing pattern evolution.”  For more information on Dr. Reed’s research, please go to his website at The Reed Lab.