Butterfly genome reveals promiscuous exchange of mimicry adaptations among species
Evolutionary Genomics (United States) · University College London · +39 more institutions
Abstract
Sequencing of the genome of the butterfly Heliconius melpomene shows that closely related Heliconius species exchange protective colour-pattern genes promiscuously. Heliconius butterflies are an excellent system in which to study ecology, behaviour, mimicry and speciation. The genome of the postman butterfly Heliconius melpomene has now been sequenced. Using genomic resequencing of individuals from distinct lineages, the authors document heterogenous patterns of genomic diversity associated with adaptively divergent wing-colour patterns. As the second lepidopteran genome to be sequenced, Heliconius offers novel opportunities for comparative genomics within this economically significant insect order, which…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 72.34
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 28
Authors
86- JMJames MalletCorresponding
Evolutionary Genomics (United States), University College London
- NRNeil Rosser
Minnesota Zoo, University College London
- KKKanchon K. Dasmahapatra
University of California, Irvine, University College London
- CSCamilo Salazar
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, University of Edinburgh
- NJNicola J. Nadeau
University of Cambridge, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
Topics & keywords
- Heliconius
- Biology
- Introgression
- Mimicry
- Evolutionary biology
- Müllerian mimicry
- Genetics
- Gene
- Life in Land