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Science 3 February 2006:
Vol. 311. no. 5761, p. 573
DOI: 10.1126/science.311.5761.573f
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This Week in Science

Figure 1 Figure 2 When adapting to varied environments, some plants and animals take on alternative phenotypes but retain the same genotype. The classic laboratory model organism, the tobacco hawk-moth Manduca sexta, is monophenic with a green larval phenotype. However, the sister species, the five-spotted hawkmoth M. quin-quemaculata, is polyphenic with a black phenotype at 20°C and green phenotype at 28°C. Suzuki and Nijhout (p. 650; see the news story by Pennisi) sensitized M. sexta to environmental temperature by using a black mutant line. Mutation of the black gene reduced juvenile hormone and increased melanization of the larval epidermis. Heat shock of the black mutant generated larva with colors ranging from black to green. Two lines were established with the desired phenotype (green or black) by selecting individuals from subsequent generations of black mutant populations. Polyphenism can thus evolve by genetic accommodation regulated by juvenile hormone.

CREDIT: SUZUKI AND NIJHOUT




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