Kosmoceras

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Posts tagged japan

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Many, many thanks mate! and apologies for the delay. Indeed, aberrations in morphology could be caused by events such as Fukushima’s accident in 2011. In the article, it is indicated that the butterflies (Zizeeria maha) were overwintering as larvae/caterpillar when the incident happened. Thus, the genes were already altered by radiation when the larvae finally pupate into chrysalis. When a holometabolous insect larva ( i.e. showing distinct larval, pupal and imago stages) becomes a pupa or chrysalis, its body undergo an extensive growth and differentiation. A total makeover. Therefore, I think it’s a very vulnerable state where a few modifications in the DNA could result in drastic changes in the adult form of the insect. Moreover, the articles stated that some of the butterflies were intentionally bred (away from the collection site) to reveal the effects and inheritance of the altered genes. The results showed that the mutation rates were “more than double that of those found sooner after the accident.” Oh, I also found these illustrations by Cornelia Hesse-Honegger, pertaining to mutant insects found after Chernobyl incident, which is just as bizarre:

Many, many thanks mate! and apologies for the delay.

Indeed, aberrations in morphology could be caused by events such as Fukushima’s accident in 2011. In the article, it is indicated that the butterflies (Zizeeria maha) were overwintering as larvae/caterpillar when the incident happened. Thus, the genes were already altered by radiation when the larvae finally pupate into chrysalis. When a holometabolous insect larva ( i.e. showing distinct larval, pupal and imago stages) becomes a pupa or chrysalis, its body undergo an extensive growth and differentiation. A total makeover. Therefore, I think it’s a very vulnerable state where a few modifications in the DNA could result in drastic changes in the adult form of the insect.

Moreover, the articles stated that some of the butterflies were intentionally bred (away from the collection site) to reveal the effects and inheritance of the altered genes. The results showed that the mutation rates were “more than double that of those found sooner after the accident.”

Oh, I also found these illustrations by Cornelia Hesse-Honegger, pertaining to mutant insects found after Chernobyl incident, which is just as bizarre:

Filed under morphogenesis zizeeria maha lepidoptera butterfly insect insecta mutation mutant fukushima japan chernobyl cornelia hesse-honegger scientific illustrations

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plarchie: When squid meets octopus who will win? #squidofcourse #eightleggedwimps                                  yeahsev For some reasons, Japan is heavily associated with octopus in my mind. Polynesian and Nordic cultures are pretty much the only other ones that feature cephalopod imageries prominently in their arts and mythology (and maybe Hellenistic cultures as well but not much in my opinion).

plarchie:

When squid meets octopus who will win? #squidofcourse #eightleggedwimps                                 

yeahsev

For some reasons, Japan is heavily associated with octopus in my mind. Polynesian and Nordic cultures are pretty much the only other ones that feature cephalopod imageries prominently in their arts and mythology (and maybe Hellenistic cultures as well but not much in my opinion).

Filed under Japan Octopus Squid Cephalopod