The great uncertainty of developmental age

Determining the age of pupa is easier than adults?

What?

Naively I expected the ageing larva

A form that is ramping up to become a pupa

To be in some uncertain state

As it doesn't know when it will pupate

Indeed, it is not a pupa until the moment it is


One expects the ageing adult

That is going to remain an adult

To be in some certain state

As it does know when it will be adult

It already is!


Yet expression of the genes

Tell a different story!


With the adults

There are so many different RNAs

That change with age

There is no one single factor

That can be used to distinguish old from older

Maybe this uncertainty is to promote certainty of uncertainty?


Meanwhile with the wandering larvae

There are sets of genes

Unexepreseed when younger

Highly expressed when older

Maybe this certainty is to counter uncertainty of certainty?


The expression change

The exact genes and direction

With respect to developmental progress

Has persisted through 40 years

Of possible disproofs, arguments

And technological advancement


Isn't that wild?

Certainty in uncertainty

Uncertainty in certainty