Article
Entomology
Emily A. W. Nadeau, Melise C. Lecheta, John J. Obrycki, Nicholas M. Teets
Summary: Lady beetles undergo reproductive diapause in winter, where females do not lay eggs, and transcriptome analysis shows that genes related to flight are consistently upregulated, while genes involved in ovarian development are downregulated, contributing to the survival strategy during diapause.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chao Tong, Leticia Aviles, Linda S. Rayor, Alexander S. Mikheyev, Timothy A. Linksvayer
Summary: This study compares the genomes of 22 spider species and identifies specific genetic changes associated with the evolution of sociality in spiders. The genes involved are associated with key functions such as neurogenesis, behavior, and metabolism. The study also highlights the potential of using ethanol-preserved specimens for comparative genomics and phylotranscriptomics.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sean T. Bresnahan, Mehmet A. Doke, Tugrul Giray, Christina M. Grozinger
Summary: In response to adverse conditions, many insect species enter a state of diapause, a period of dormancy associated with reduced physical activity, development and reproduction. Transcriptomic studies of honey bees showed tissue-specific transcriptional profiles associated with seasonal phenotypes, laying the groundwork for further research on the mechanisms, evolution and consequences of this tissue-specific regulation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hongxing Xu, Xinhai Ye, Yajun Yang, Yi Yang, Yu H. Sun, Yang Mei, Shijiao Xiong, Kang He, Le Xu, Qi Fang, Fei Li, Gongyin Ye, Zhongxian Lu
Summary: Research has revealed that hundreds of genes in the Telenomus and Trichogramma wasps have evolved at accelerated rates, with 38 genes showing extremely rapid evolutionary rates in these two miniaturized wasps, primarily related to eye and wing development, as well as cell size control. These genes also indicate potential roles in body size regulation, providing genetic basis for their convergent adaptations to miniaturization.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vittoria Roncalli, Matthew C. Cieslak, Ann M. Castelfranco, Russell R. Hopcroft, Daniel K. Hartline, Petra H. Lenz
Summary: The study found that female Neocalanus flemingeri copepods transitioned from diapause to post-diapause within 12 hours of the termination stimulus, triggering a complex set of changes in gene expression that led to the activation of multiple biological processes and ultimately the successful completion of the reproductive program.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vittoria Roncalli, Jeanette Niestroy, Matthew C. Cieslak, Ann M. Castelfranco, Russell R. Hopcroft, Petra H. Lenz
Summary: Understanding how individual organisms adapt to nonoptimal conditions through physiological acclimatization is crucial for predicting the consequences of unusual abiotic and biotic conditions. The study revealed differences in gene expression profiles of copepods in response to high temperature and low chlorophyll abundance conditions caused by a marine heat wave, indicating the role of physiological acclimatization.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Cerca
Summary: Studying the concepts and definitions of parallel and convergent evolution is crucial for understanding evolutionary patterns. A consolidated framework is proposed to address the inconsistencies and confusion in existing concepts and definitions. This framework aims to harmonize the concepts of parallel and convergent evolution with natural selection and the idea of similarity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ranran Gao, Qian Lou, Lijun Hao, Guihong Qi, Ya Tian, Xiangdong Pu, Chunnian He, Yu Wang, Wenjie Xu, Zhichao Xu, Jingyuan Song
Summary: This study reveals that the production of scutellarein in the two distant species, Scutellaria baicalensis and Erigeron breviscapus, is caused by the convergent evolution of two independently evolved CYP450 families. Additionally, the function of flavone 6-hydroxylase (F6H) evolved from flavone 8-hydroxylase (F8H), with key amino acids contributing to scutellarein biosynthesis. The research provides important insights into the multi-origin evolution of the same secondary metabolite biosynthesis in the plant kingdom.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Katie Ovens, B. Frank Eames, Ian McQuillan
Summary: Comparing gene co-expression networks across species can provide insights into evolutionary relationships, identifying evidence of conservation or adaptation. However, challenges such as the lack of comparative datasets and limitations of protein-protein interaction methods hinder the study of evolution using these networks.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Yirong Wang, Xiaolu Tang, Jian Lu
Summary: The evolution of microRNAs in bilaterian animals has been extensively studied, with a focus on both convergent and divergent evolution. Recent evidence suggests that the miRNA pathway might have already existed in the last common ancestor of eukaryotes, and differences in animal and plant lineages arise from lineage-specific innovations and losses. The miRNA repertoire has expanded through de novo creation and duplication processes, with many newly emerged miRNAs being lineage-specific. MiRNA clustering and seed mimicry contribute to the convergent molecular evolution of miRNAs, and miRNAs from different sources can converge to degrade maternal mRNAs during animal development. MiRNAs can evolve across species due to changes in sequence, seed shifting, arm switching, and spatiotemporal expression patterns, resulting in variations in target sites among orthologous miRNAs.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Oliver M. Beckers, Teiya Kijimoto, Johannes Schul
Summary: The ability to respond to environmental changes is crucial for coping with the stressors related to climate change. This study investigated the call plasticity in a tropical and a temperate population of Neoconocephalus triops, and found that the pulse rate and call structure can undergo quantitative and qualitative changes in response to different environmental conditions. The findings highlight the evolutionary potential of hidden genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity in rapidly changing environments.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Athina Georgiadou, Claire Dunican, Pablo Soro-Barrio, Hyun Jae Lee, Myrsini Kaforou, Aubrey J. Cunnington
Summary: Recent research has focused on improving the translation of animal models to human disease, but determining the relevance of animal models remains a challenge. In this study, comparative transcriptomics were used to evaluate the systemic host response in humans with different clinical manifestations of malaria and commonly used mouse models. The results showed that the Plasmodium yoelii 17XL infection model in mice closely reproduced the gene expression changes seen in severe malaria in humans. However, there was also significant discordance in gene expression changes between different host species and models.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francois Osiurak, Nicolas Claidiere, Alexandre Bluet, Joel Brogniart, Salome Lasserre, Timothe Bonhoure, Laura Di Rollo, Neo Gorry, Yohann Polette, Alix Saude, Giovanni Federico, Natalie Uomini, Emanuelle Reynaud
Summary: Understanding the evolution of human technology is crucial for solving the mystery of our origins. Current theories suggest that technology evolves through the accumulation of advantageous modifications and the selective retention of these variations. Another explanation is that technical reasoning supports high-fidelity transmission in the context of cumulative technological culture, allowing individuals to converge to optimal solutions. In a microsociety experiment, we tested these competing hypotheses and found that the system improved over generations, accompanied by an increased understanding and progressive convergence of solutions. These findings highlight the role of technical reasoning in the cultural evolution of technology.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caitlyn Mahony, Colleen O'Ryan
Summary: This review discusses the recent advances in ASD proteomic data analysis, highlighting the key pathways related to neurodevelopment and cellular metabolism. The differential expressed proteins identified in ASD are supported by transcriptomic and epigenomic data, indicating their potential role in the pathology of ASD. The protein-protein interaction networks revealed in this study provide a link between canonical pathways, biological processes, and the ASD phenotype.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jory Thiel, Muzaffar A. Khan, Roel M. Wouters, Richard J. Harris, Nicholas R. Casewell, Bryan G. Fry, R. Manjunatha Kini, Stephen P. Mackessy, Freek J. Vonk, Wolfgang Wuster, Michael K. Richardson
Summary: Convergence is the phenomenon where similar phenotypes evolve independently in different lineages. Resistance to toxins in animals is an example of convergence, where molecular adaptations have evolved to counteract the harmful effects of toxins. However, resistance adaptations may carry fitness costs if they disrupt the normal physiology of the resistant animal.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eva C. Rueda, Kerry A. Mullaney, Cecilia Conte-Grand, Evelyn M. Habit, Victor Cussac, Guillermo Orti
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2017)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Changwei Shao, Baolong Bao, Zhiyuan Xie, Xinye Chen, Bo Li, Xiaodong Jia, Qiulin Yao, Guillermo Orti, Wenhui Li, Xihong Li, Kristin Hamre, Juan Xu, Lei Wang, Fangyuan Chen, Yongsheng Tian, Alex M. Schreiber, Na Wang, Fen Wei, Jilin Zhang, Zhongdian Dong, Lei Gao, Junwei Gai, Takashi Sakamoto, Sudong Mo, Wenjun Chen, Qiong Shi, Hui Li, Yunji Xiu, Yangzhen Li, Wenteng Xu, Zhiyi Shi, Guojie Zhang, Deborah M. Power, Qingyin Wang, Manfred Schartl, Songlin Chen
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon A. Wentworth, Katrina Thede, Varsha Aravindabose, Ian Monroe, Andrew W. Thompson, Neil Molyneaux, Christopher L. Owen, John R. Burns, Agustin Gonzalez Vicente, Jeffrey L. Garvin, Randall K. Packer
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lily C. Hughes, Guillermo Orti, Yu Huang, Ying Sun, Carole C. Baldwin, Andrew W. Thompson, Dahiana Arcila, Ricardo Betancur-R, Chenhong Li, Leandro Becker, Nicolas Bellora, Xiaomeng Zhao, Xiaofeng Li, Min Wang, Chao Fang, Bing Xie, Zhuocheng Zhou, Hai Huang, Songlin Chen, Byrappa Venkatesh, Qiong Shi
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sylvain Darnet, Aline C. Dragalzew, Danielson B. Amaral, Josane F. Sousa, Andrew W. Thompson, Amanda N. Cass, Jamily Lorena, Eder S. Pires, Carinne M. Costa, Marcos P. Sousa, Nadia B. Froebisch, Guilherme Oliveira, Patricia N. Schneider, Marcus C. Davis, Ingo Braasch, Igor Schneider
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Murielle Alund, Nathan Emery, Benjamin J. M. Jarrett, Kirsty J. MacLeod, Helen F. McCreery, Nadya Mamoozadeh, John G. Phillips, Jory Schossau, Andrew W. Thompson, Alexa R. Warwick, Kelsey M. Yule, Erin R. Zylstra, Eben Gering
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Alex Dornburg, Dustin J. Wcisel, Katerina Zapfe, Emma Ferraro, Lindsay Roupe-Abrams, Andrew W. Thompson, Ingo Braasch, Tatsuya Ota, Jeffrey A. Yoder
Summary: The study investigates the receptor diversity of two innate immune gene families in the teleost sister lineage, Holostei, providing insights into the evolutionary history and linkage of these gene clusters. The findings reveal a diversity in these immune receptors in Holostei that rivals that of many teleosts, challenging prevailing expectations regarding the consequences of genome duplication during actinopterygian evolution.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Andrew W. Thompson, M. Brent Hawkins, Elise Parey, Dustin J. Wcisel, Tatsuya Ota, Kazuhiko Kawasaki, Emily Funk, Mauricio Losilla, Olivia E. Fitch, Qiaowei Pan, Romain Feron, Alexandra Louis, Jerome Montfort, Marine Milhes, Brett L. Racicot, Kevin L. Childs, Quenton Fontenot, Allyse Ferrara, Solomon R. David, Amy R. McCune, Alex Dornburg, Jeffrey A. Yoder, Yann Guiguen, Hugues Roest Crollius, Camille Berthelot, Matthew P. Harris, Ingo Braasch
Summary: The analysis of a chromosome-level bowfin genome assembly sheds light on the evolution of neopterygian fishes. Through examining chromatin accessibility and gene expression profiling, insights into bowfin embryonic development have been provided. The resources obtained from this study connect developmental evolution among bony fishes, emphasizing the importance of bowfin in illustrating vertebrate biology and diversity in the genomic era.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Rose D. Peterson, John P. Sullivan, Carl D. Hopkins, Aintzane Santaquiteria, Casey B. Dillman, Stacy Pirro, Ricardo Betancur-R, Dahiana Arcila, Lily C. Hughes, Guillermo Orti
Summary: Bonytongues are an ancient clade of teleost fishes found in freshwater habitats worldwide, including well-known species such as arowanas and pirarucus. The group's disjunct distribution, extreme morphologies, and electrolocating capabilities have attracted scientific interest, but a comprehensive phylogenetic framework is lacking, especially for the Mormyridae family. Disparate craniofacial morphologies among mormyrids offer a unique model system for studying convergent evolution. A phylogenomic analysis was conducted, revealing the divergence dates and biogeographic patterns of bonytongues. The study also highlights the evolutionary significance of craniofacial morphologies in mormyrids.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Andrew W. Thompson, Harrison Wojtas, Myles Davoll, Ingo Braasch
Summary: The Rio Pearlfish is a killifish species that inhabits seasonal pools in the Rio de Janeiro region of Brazil. Its embryos enter dormant diapause stages in the soil and hatch when the habitat is inundated. The genome of the Rio Pearlfish provides important insights into the genetic control of hatching and the adaptation to harsh conditions.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily M. Troyer, Ricardo Betancur-R, Lily C. Hughes, Mark Westneat, Giorgio Carnevale, William T. White, John J. Pogonoski, James C. Tyler, Carole C. Baldwin, Guillermo Orti, Andrew Brinkworth, Julien Clavel, Dahiana Arcila
Summary: This study examines body size evolution in tetraodontiform fishes using Bergmann's rule and Cope's rule. By combining phylogenomic data with paleoclimate and body size data, the study finds strong support for a temperature-driven model, where increasing body size over time is correlated with decreasing oceanic temperatures. Extant tetraodontiforms are, on average, two to three times larger than their fossil counterparts, which evolved during periods of warmer ocean temperatures.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Sabateeshan Mathavarajah, Andrew W. Thompson, Matthew R. Stoyek, T. Alexander Quinn, Stephane Roy, Ingo Braasch, Graham Dellaire
Summary: This study reveals that aquatic vertebrates undergo transcriptional rewiring of innate immune signaling pathways during limb and fin regeneration to promote immune cell recruitment. The study also shows that cGAS-STING pathway and various suppressors of cytosolic DNA play important roles in the regeneration process. The findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms behind tissue regeneration in aquatic animals.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ricardo Betancur-R, Edward O. Wiley, Gloria Arratia, Arturo Acero, Nicolas Bailly, Masaki Miya, Guillaume Lecointre, Guillermo Orti
BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M. Oswaldo Tovar Bohorquez, Alejandro S. Mechaly, Lily C. Hughes, Daniela Campanella, Guillermo Orti, Luis F. Canosa, Gustavo M. Somoza
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2017)
