1974 D.Phil. University of Sussex 1975 MRC Researc Scientist, MIMR London 1977 Lecturer University of Edinburg 1995 Senior Lecturer University of Edinburgh

I am a Developmental Biologist, mainly interested in spatial pattern formation in insects and in evolution of the mechanisms involved. Past research projects have included insect limb regeneration; segmentation in insect embryos; and the control of growth and size in relation to temperature. My current research concerns the specification of colour patterns on developing butterfly and moth wings.

Saenko, S., French, V., Brakefield, P.M.& Beldade, P. (2008) Conserved developmental processes and the formation of evolutionary novelties: examples from butterfly wings. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (Lond) in press. Beldade, P, French, V. & Brakefield, P.M. (2008) Developmentaal and genetic mechanisms for evolutionary diversificaton of serial repeats: eyespot size in Bicyclus anynana butterflies. J. exp. Zool. 310B 191-201. French, V. & Brakefield, P.M. (2004) Pattern Formation: a focus on Notch in butterfly eyespots. Current Biology 14, R663-R665. Brakefield, P.M., French, V. & .Zwaan, B.J. (2003) Development and the genetics of evolutionary change within insect species. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 34, 633-660. Azevedo, R.B.R., French, V. & Partridge, L. (2002). Temperature modulates epidermal cell size in Drosophila melanogaster. J. Insect Physiol . 48, 231-237.