Latent gene network expression underlies partial re-evolution of a polyphenic trait in the worker caste of ants.

Latent gene regulatory networks enable the repeated partial re-evolution of ocelli in worker ants, despite their loss over evolutionary time.

• Why it matters: Understanding how lost traits re-emerge is crucial for explaining phenotypic diversity and evolutionary innovation, especially in polyphenic systems like ant castes.
• What they did: The study examined the evolutionary history of worker ocelli in Formicinae ants, using gene expression analysis and ancestral state reconstruction to identify persistent developmental potentials.
• The result: Findings reveal that dormant gene regulatory networks remain active in workers without ocelli, facilitating their repeated partial re-evolution and suggesting latent developmental programs are common in polyphenic traits.