Describing Compartmentalization in the Fore-wing of Populations of the Rice Grasshoppers, Oxya sp. (Acrididae: Orthoptera)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, 9200 Iligan City, Philippines

Abstract

The fore-wings of Rice grasshoppers, Oxya sp. are divided into compartments
by a complex network of veins. There has been a long term hypothesis suggesting that
wing compartments bounded by veins may correspond to distinct cell lineages and
domains of gene expression. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the
patterns of modularity and integration in the fore-wings of the Rice grasshoppers,
Oxya sp. A total of 180 points were used to outline the margins of the fore-wings.
Results showed that the fore-wing of Oxya sp. is partitioned into 6 developmental
modules. The consistency in the number and pattern of developmental modules in the
fore-wings suggests that the wings are highly conserved indicating genetic
conservatism in the morphological spaces. Results also suggest that compartments are
considered an autonomous unit of gene regulation and major veins served as
boundaries and as active center of integration.

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