As a caterpillar develops inside an egg, it grows a special group of cells called imaginal discs that contain the information for each part of an adult butterfly. Once it hatches, grows, and creates a cocoon, it releases enzymes that dissolve its tissues into a protein-rich soup. This soup provides the nutrients necessary for each imaginal disc to undergo the rapid cell growth that forms the wings, legs, and other features of the mature adult.[^1] The larva-pupa-butterfly metamorphosis is a common trope in personal growth literature. Typically, this analogizes the duration of youthful ignorance, followed by a period of dormancy, then the [[Emergence]] of the mature adult. While well-intentioned in the realm of feel-good self-help groups, in the experience of inner psychological life, this depiction seems incomplete. ## Medicine As a metaphor, the process described above provides a more accurate illustration for the emotional turmoil experienced during periods of personal transformation. To carry the metaphor further, it is suggested[^2] that certain moths retain memory through the process of metamorphosis. This is a good example of how observing natural processes can provide useful guidance for working with uncertainty. It is now understood that during metamorphosis, the caterpillar genome actively attacks the developing butterfly inside the cocoon. [^1]: Jabr, F. (2012). How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. _Scientific American_, _10_. [full text](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/caterpillar-butterfly-metamorphosis-explainer/) [^2]: Blackiston, D. J., Silva Casey, E., & Weiss, M. R. (2008). Retention of memory through metamorphosis: can a moth remember what it learned as a caterpillar?. PloS one, 3(3), e1736. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0001736