USA Today quotes Nicholas Baker, Ph.D. about a recent paper in Nature that found a gene which may be responsible for the color and patterns that appear on insect wings. Dr. Baker notes that evolution appears to "reuse" genes. In this case, it seems that the part of the fruit fly's genetic code that makes wings is later used for coloration. Dr. Baker is professor of genetics, of developmental and molecular biology, and of ophthalmology and visual sciences.
April 13, 2010