The discovered of genetic information that helps explain the way monarch butterflies find their route from Canada to winter nesting ground in the mountains of Mexico have published in the PLoS Biology Journal and the Public Library Science. The butterflies’ biological clock help them use sun as a compass.
Monarch butterflies have unique circadian clocks, which regulate daily activities like sleep and hunger. Genetically map of the molecular underpinings of the butterflies’ circadian clocks point out existence of cryptochrome proteins that common in both insects and mammals.
The researchers believed these proteins enable the monarch to use the sun’s position in the sky to navigating. The researches also very curious of incredible capability of butterfly’s brain which no bigger than the head of the pin.
When biological clocks of monarch butterflies understood completely, might help shed light on the biological clocks of humans, and turn aid research into everything from sleep disorders to depression. This study also producing crucial information about life’s nature.
The research led by Steven Reppert, a neurobiologist from University of Massachusetts and funded in part by grants from National Institutes of Health and Czech Republic’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.
Reference: The Jakarta Post, Monday, January 14, 2008.
Tags: popular science blog
