DNA methylation dynamics associated with seasonal wing plasticity of Bicyclus anynana butterflies.

DNA methylation shows limited association with gene expression and wing pattern differences in Bicyclus anynana butterflies' seasonal forms.

• Why it matters: Understanding epigenomic regulation like DNA methylation is crucial to deciphering mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity, which remains poorly understood in insects.
• What they did: The study analyzed DNA methylation patterns in developing wings of two seasonal forms, focusing on differential methylation, gene expression, and alternative splicing, involving genome-wide comparisons.
• The result: Findings indicate methylation differences are mainly in housekeeping genes and do not significantly influence wing pattern development or seasonal morphological changes, suggesting limited epigenetic control in this context.