Wing vein patterns of the Hemiptera insect Orosanga japonicus differ among individuals.

Although Turing's reaction-diffusion model (RD model) has been gradually accepted among biologists, application of the model is still limited. Accumulated experimental studies have shown that the morphogen gradient model can explain most patterning phenomena in embryogenesis. These experiments have been performed only in a few model animals. Therefore, it is not clear whether the discovered principle of the mechanism is generally applicable. The wing venation pattern of Drosophila melanogaster is largely determined by the morphogen gradient mechanism. We found that the gradient model cannot be applied to some other species. In the Hemiptera insect Orosanga japonicus, each individual has a unique pattern. Veins of O. japonicus extend radially from the proximal region and bifurcate to add the veins in the distal region. Interestingly, the bifurcation points are almost random and the vein number at the wing edge differs with wing size. However, the spacing between the veins is maintained evenly. Computer simulation of the RD model showed these properties do not fit the morphogen gradient model, but perfectly fit the RD model. This result suggests that the RD model may explain phenomena to which the morphogen gradient mechanism is currently believed to apply.