UB researchers are currently using lasers to "etch-a-sketch" on butterflies, but their work is a bit more than child's play.
Using a high-intensity beam at the correct wavelength, the researchers are able to turn on a fluorescent gene sequence in the insect's wing in order to see why certain genes are re-used after the butterfly's development.
"There's only a few developmental genes that are re-used to create bodies," said Diane Ramos, UB grad student and doctoral candidate in the department of biological sciences. "It's really nothing new about butterflies."
According to Ramos, butterflies are one of only a few organisms that are used to test genetics.
"Our goal is to try and use the lasers to test what the genes do," Ramos said.
The scientists were able to take butterflies still in early stages of development and, using lasers with proper wavelengths, control the time change of its genetic sequence. By using heat shock from the laser, certain fluorescent marker genes were exposed and manipulated into patterns. When the butterfly matures, researchers are able to see if they have a success or not.
"It's more of a systematic set of trials then trial and error," said Professor Alexander Cartwright, researcher in the project and professor of electrical engineering.
The Bicyclus anynana butterfly is the most common butterfly used for these tests, Ramos said.
In the field of genetics, and science in general, it seems like studies, tests and theories are endless. According to Ramos, these are always done with a goal in mind.
"The short-term goal is to get functional evidence for the roles of our genes," Ramos said. "The long term-goal is to understand how evolution and novelty features evolve."
A novelty feature would be an uncommon quality, such as the eyespot patterns found on certain species, according to Ramos. Eyespots have adaptive qualities for a range of uses, from scaring predators to attracting mates. There is a set of genes in each color ring of the butterfly.
"It's hard to see how things get filtered out, hard to see how things were created," Ramos said.
Cartwright and his students are the ones who designed the laser system, which is no insect-sized matter. Think Dr. Evil-sized.
The laser used for these tests cost about $100,000, although Cartwright said that it is not necessary to use a laser that expensive.
"You need (a laser with) fine control, the right wave length, the right exposure time," he said.
According to Cartwright, the technology is there, and once the field of genetics is better understood, the doors will open to endless opportunities such as early disease-catching and finding other potentially life-threatening biological problems before they can cause harm or devastation.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
