BioEssays 3/2012

Eye genes expressed on wings. This image shows ommatidia containing red‐reflecting screening pigments (photo courtesy of Doekela Stavenga) deployed on the wings of an Heliconius butterfly (photo courtesy of Chris Jiggins). On pages 181–186 of this issue Antónia Monteiro reviews recent discoveries that suggest that eye‐like organs on the wings of Eohelea midges, and red patches on the wings of Heliconus butterflies, may have originated from redeployments of the eye gene regulatory network on the wings of these insects. Monteiro also develops an empirical framework to help recognize when such co‐option events underlie the origin of novel traits. The doctored image conveys the concept of ectopic expression in the creation of novel traits.Backcover by A. Monteiro