Evolutionary genetics in insect phenotypic radiations: the value of a comparative genomic approach

• Published in: Current opinion in insect science 2019-12, Vol.36, p.90-95
• Main Authors: Hines, Heather M, Rahman, Sarthok Rasique
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2214-5745; 2214-5745
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2019.08.013

•Expanding resources enable evolutionary genetic studies across insects.•Phenotypic radiations reveal evolutionary processes using comparative genomics.•These systems can reveal the diversity of gene targets and gene function.•Mimicry radiations exemplify the potential of comparative genomics.•Approaches to mine genomes for micro and macroevolutionary insights are needed. Expanding genome sequencing and transgenic technologies are enabling the discovery of genes driving phenotypic diversity across insect taxa. Limitations in downstream functional genetic approaches, however, have been an obstacle for developing non-model systems for evolutionary genetics. Phenotypically diverse radiations, such as those exhibiting convergence and divergence as a result of mimicry, are ideal for evolutionary genetics as they can lead to insights using comparative genomic approaches alone. The varied and repeated instances of phenotypes in highly polymorphic systems allow assessment of whether similar loci are repeatedly targeted by selection and can inform how alleles sort across lineages. Comparative genomics of these taxa can be used to decipher components of gene regulatory networks, dissect regulatory regions, and validate genes.