Riccardo Papa emphasized that this RNA gene is an ancestral mechanism for wing pattern diversity, not a recent development.

A groundbreaking study led by Luca Livraghi from George Washington University and the University of Cambridge has revealed that an RNA molecule, rather than a protein, is responsible for determining the distribution of black pigment on butterfly wings.

This research challenges the long-held belief that proteins were the primary influencers of wing patterns, highlighting the crucial role of RNA in this process.

Previously, it was assumed that protein-coding genes were essential for pigment generation; however, this study identifies an RNA gene that controls dark pigment development.

The researchers found that a specific gene producing an RNA molecule controls the formation of dark pigments during butterfly metamorphosis.

The RNA's expression was precisely correlated with the formation of black scales during wing development, with researcher Arnaud Martin describing it as an 'evolutionary paintbrush'.

The study examined this RNA across various butterfly species that diverged around 80 million years ago, demonstrating its key role in controlling dark pigment placement.

Using CRISPR genome-editing techniques, the team demonstrated that removing the RNA-producing gene resulted in butterflies losing their black pigmented scales.

Published on August 30, 2024, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study emphasizes the need to pay attention to previously overlooked genetic mechanisms.

The findings not only challenge existing beliefs about genetic regulation but also pave the way for new research into the evolution of visible traits in animals.

Joe Hanly highlighted the repeated significance of this RNA across multiple butterfly species, suggesting potential overlooked phenomena in genetic research.

The genetic code in developing butterfly wings orchestrates the arrangement of colors on wing scales, similar to how pixels create a digital image.