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Where do domesticated silkworm cocoons get their wild colours from?
Context –
Domestication of Silkworms has affected the species in intricate ways.
Silk Production and Types
- History of Domestication: Silk, extracted from the cocoons of the Bombyx mori silk moth, finds its roots in Chinese domestication over 5,000 years ago.
- Varied Colours and Textures: Mulberry leaves sustain the silkworms, with different species like muga, tasar, and eri silks harvested from other moth species, yielding varying silk textures and colors.
- Wild Silk Production: Wild silks amount to about 30% of India's silk production, contrasting the finer, longer threads of mulberry silks.
Genetic Variations and Pigment Diversity
- Reason for diversity: The diversity in silk coloration originates from mutations affecting the absorption and transportation of pigments like carotenoids and flavonoids from mulberry leaves.
- Method for production of colored Cocoons: Through artificial selection, the silkworms produce differently colored cocoons, forming a palette of hues from yellow-red to deep green or white.
- Significance of Genes: Understanding the genetic basis of these mutations, researchers have identified the significance of genes in pigment production.
Insights and Genetic Studies
- Research Insights: Researchers have examined genes like apontic-like, observing differences in the production of melanin pigment when mutated.
- Role of Gene Regulation: Such studies have shed light on gene regulation and expression, exploring the intricate mechanisms behind the development of colored silks.
- Better Avenues: These findings have opened avenues for a genetic exploration into the domestication process, potentially extending to similar studies in other domesticated species like rice, mangoes, and dogs in the future.
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