As is true of virtually every realm of the biological sciences, our understanding of speciation
is increasingly informed by the genomic revolution of the past decade. Investigators can ask …

The colorful phenotypes of birds have long provided rich source material for evolutionary
biologists. Avian plumage, beaks, skin, and eggs—which exhibit a stunning range of cryptic …

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcribed elements increasingly recognized for their
roles in regulating gene expression. Thus far, however, we have little understanding of how …

The wings of Lepidoptera contain a matrix of living cells whose function requires appropriate
temperatures. However, given their small thermal capacity, wings can overheat rapidly in the …

Evolutionary variation in the wing pigmentation of butterflies and moths offers striking
examples of adaptation by crypsis and mimicry. The cortex locus has been independently …

The cuticular skeleton of a butterfly wing scale cell is an exquisitely finely sculpted material
that can contain pigments, produce structural colors, or both. While cuticle rigidity and …

Color pattern mimicry in Heliconius butterflies is a classic case study of complex trait
adaptation via selection on a few large effect genes. Association studies have linked color …

Little is known about the extent to which species use homologous regulatory architectures to
achieve phenotypic convergence. By characterizing chromatin accessibility and gene …

Ommochromes are widely occurring coloured molecules of invertebrates, arising from
tryptophan catabolism through the so‐called Tryptophan→ Ommochrome pathway. They are …

Understanding the genetic basis of trait evolution is critical to identifying the mechanisms
that generated the immense amount of diversity observable in the living world. However …