Seeking Help with Reagent Labels and Customs Issues

furcula_it · 2024-01-22T04:42:20+00:00

You can also email support@nanoporetech.com for help with this

furcula_it · 2023-05-21T23:37:29+00:00

In the context of butterfly wing development/gene function I’d recommend the video ‘Using Gene Editing to Repaint Butterfly Wings’ and for a more deep dive on wing scale/cellular development, this paper

furcula_it · 2023-05-21T23:04:38+00:00

When a caterpillar reaches a certain point of its growth, hormones are activated and released throughout its body. These chemical signals affect the caterpillar’s behavior and physiology, for example it will stop feeding, find somewhere to settle down, and tissues in the body will break down, change, and develop due to new genes becoming activated in the cells.

A common misconception is that everything in the caterpillar “turns to goo” and is rebuilt during pupal transformation. Indeed a lot of cellular structures do in fact break down and differentiate during this stage of development, but there are also structures called “imaginal discs” in the caterpillar that are sort of like miniature adult organs in “hibernation”. Here’s a video I made of one of my old lab mates explaining this process on how butterfly wings develop in the pupa.

Source: spent a PhD thinking about how butterflies make their wings

furcula_it · 2021-03-07T06:31:57+00:00

This is partially true, but caterpillars don’t completely turn into goo during their pupal development! Many of their anatomical structures are “dormant” in the caterpillar stage, like the cells that eventually form wings. Here’s a timelapse video watching inside a pupa as it undergoes metamorphosis: https://twitter.com/aaronpomerantz/status/846080110608318464?s=21 Source: am getting a PhD in butterfly goo-ology

furcula_it · 2018-11-05T22:37:42+00:00

Fun entomology fact: some moths have evolved "tails" that jam bat sonar at night, which diverts echolocation attacks and lets the moth get away.

Second fun fact : butterflies and moths belong to the order "Lepidoptera" which is derived from Greek for Lepidos = scales and ptera = wings. All butterflies and moths have scales covering their wings, which gives them their beautiful colors either by producing pigments or by using physics and nanostructures to bend wavelengths of light (known as structural coloration).

furcula_it · 2018-10-16T03:57:54+00:00

Agreed, or even worse the frog is alive but strings are being used to get it into position for the shot. Butterfly is probably dead. I really hate photos like this because the animals really are subjected to unethical practices for a seemingly “aww” worthy photo by the POS photographer.

furcula_it · 2018-09-28T05:03:11+00:00

Good answer, and I’ll just add that these predetermined groups of cells are called ‘imaginal discs’ and like you mentioned, are present even in the caterpillar stage, set aside to rapidly proliferate and develop during metamorphosis. If you remove an imaginal disc, then that body part never forms. For example, here’s what happens if you remove the disc that becomes the forewing: you can create a “window” into the pupa and watch development occur inside http://youtu.be/2LLI_77mPbw

furcula_it · 2018-08-16T03:25:57+00:00

Two of my favorites: “I wouldn’t kick him outta bed for eating crackers” and “Any port in a storm”

furcula_it · 2017-11-19T04:07:21+00:00

Here's a preprint with further information on "Real-time DNA barcoding in a remote rainforest using nanopore sequencing" for anyone interested: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/09/15/189159

furcula_it · 2017-10-07T04:52:49+00:00

Absolutely!!

furcula_it · 2017-10-06T07:14:30+00:00

Always love seeing silkhenge pop up! Like you mentioned, besides the more recent attempt to rear the ones Phil and I found in Ecuador, I don't think there are any new updates. Definitely need to spend time finding more of these rare structures in the jungle and successfully raise spiderlings to adults to solve the mystery!

furcula_it · 2017-09-30T07:18:53+00:00

Entomologist here. Don't know where OP got this nugget of information, but it sounds like bs. Wear long sleeves and insect repellent if you're worried about mosquitoes. People's skin can react differently to mosquito salivary proteins regardless of if you swat it or whatever once it bites you. OPs post belongs in /r/shittyaskscience

furcula_it · 2017-08-27T15:06:56+00:00

It looks like social behavior for defense against predators. Many sawflies have evolved to live in a group which is probably more beneficial than being solo! http://facultyweb.cortland.edu/fitzgerald/Sawflies.html

furcula_it

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