Comparative genomics reveals the dynamics of chromosome evolution in Lepidoptera

Chromosomes are a central unit of genome organization. One-tenth of all described species on Earth are butterflies and moths, the Lepidoptera, which generally possess 31 chromosomes. However, some species display dramatic variation in chromosome number. Here we analyse 210 chromosomally complete lepidopteran genomes and show that the chromosomes of extant lepidopterans are derived from 32 ancestral linkage groups, which we term Merian elements. Merian elements have remained largely intact through 250 million years of evolution and diversification. Against this stable background, eight lineages have undergone extensive reorganization either through numerous fissions or a combination of fusion and fission…

• W
  Wellcome

  Awards: 220540/Z/20/A, 218328
• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Awards: 218328, 220540/Z/20/A, 220540
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Award: NE/S007407/1